Althouse: "The Undefeated" — that movie about Sarah Palin — unwittingly shows why she's not a good candidate for President.

July 25, 2011

"The Undefeated" — that movie about Sarah Palin — unwittingly shows why she's not a good candidate for President.

As you know, I saw the movie last week and thought that as a movie, it was pretty bad. It's a separate question — though Palin fans have a hard time seeing it — whether the movie supplies us with material that is convincing on the subject of whether Palin should run for President.

The material — which impresses some people, even to the point of getting confused into thinking that the movie is good — shows Sarah Palin's rise to power in Alaska and her excellent achievements and immense popularity as governor. The problem is that all of this happened in the context of boldly and bravely challenging the corrupt Republican establishment. This made her very popular with Democrats in Alaska. She worked in a bipartisan way, mainly to extract money from oil and gas resources in Alaska, and that was popular with everyone, pushing her ratings above 80% in Alaska. She was raking in money for Alaskans and challenging the big corporations (and their inside dealings). What's not for Democrats to like?

But once McCain brought her in as the vice presidential nominee and she launched into ripping up Barack Obama, her ratings plummeted in Alaska. And non-Alaskans never got up to speed about the things that had made her popular in Alaska. Can the movie make up for that now? I don't see how.

Suppose Palin-haters or Palin-non-lovers went to see this movie and absorbed the information about what originally made her so popular in Alaska. They aren't going to start liking her. Even if they were fair enough to recognize her early achievements, those achievements don't translate into the presidential realm. Where are the big corporations with ties to corrupt Republicans that she's going to fight now?

More importantly, Governor Palin's greatness came through working with Democrats! How would President Palin work with congressional Republicans? It can't happen now. What made her great in Alaska is now lost. It was lost in Alaska, after the '08 election, which is why — the movie shows this — she had to resign as governor.

Democrats were central to Sarah Palin's greatness: That is the argument in the movie. If that is true, there is no greatness upon which to build a presidential bid.

271 comments:

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bagoh20 said...: I like them both, but until recently Ryan was not the deficit hawk he plays today, and I bet Christie could not hold up to the same scrutiny.; 7/25/11, 4:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Some of us are saying that it is unlikely she will run because she's enjoying a very lucrative and influential career right now. I would be surprised if she were willing to drop all of that to take a swan dive into a meat grinder.

To believe that is to believe she puts her personal greed over the welfare of the Country.

To believe that is to believe her patriotism is simply a means to an end.

To believe that is to believe that narrative created by her enemies.

Feel Free(man) to set me straight.; 7/25/11, 4:25 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Because both of them are better at communicating economic principles. Both think more quickly on their feet and can speak at length about fiscal conservatism extemporaneously. Ryan also has the advantage of knowing the byzantine system of the federal government better than most anybody.; 7/25/11, 4:25 PM
Anonymous said...: traditionalguy said...

"She loves her children, and everybody else's children too"

Even the children from people who don't live in "real America"?; 7/25/11, 4:26 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: To believe that is to believe she puts her personal greed over the welfare of the Country.

No it doesn't. Not running right at this moment does not mean that she doesn't care about the welfare of the country.

It's not a choice between great career and being President. It's a choice between great career and running for President when she is extremely unlikely to win.; 7/25/11, 4:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Palin as Princess Di then?; 7/25/11, 4:28 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Ryan was not the deficit hawk he plays today,

Who was besides, maybe, Ron Paul?; 7/25/11, 4:28 PM
bagoh20 said...: Freeman, I agree with you about those two. On the communication of detail of ideas, Palin seems weak. I would be fine with either one of those gentlemen, but they are not running either, unfortunately.; 7/25/11, 4:31 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: I much preferred Wonkette's review.

The comments are way better, too. At least when they're funny, it's intentional.; 7/25/11, 4:34 PM
bagoh20 said...: If you want experience and communication skills, Obama is your man. Does the next President get to keep the TOTUS.; 7/25/11, 4:34 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Erp. forgot the title for that Wonkette review:

Sarah Palin Movie Suffers Like Its Protagonist From a Case of the Quits; 7/25/11, 4:35 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I figured that as long as we were discussing the candidacies of people not running...

Heh.; 7/25/11, 4:36 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Alpha, there wasn't a review there.; 7/25/11, 4:37 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Paul Ryan claims to follow both Ayn Rand and Jesus Christ.

Can't be done! Kind of like going north and south simultaneously.

Palin is a grifter, in it for the dollars. She serves Palin. Period.; 7/25/11, 4:37 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Yes, Alpha, I remember reading all those sermons where Jesus exhorted his followers to throw in with the Romans and implement his teachings through government.; 7/25/11, 4:39 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Between Ann's two posts, it's a review.

It's remarkable that someone would think quitting one office qualifies you for a higher one. Sarah is very special.; 7/25/11, 4:39 PM
Anonymous said...: AlphaLiberal said...

"Palin is a grifter, in it for the dollars. She serves Palin. Period."

Bullseye.; 7/25/11, 4:40 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: If you want to be perfect, go, take alms from your neighbor at the point of a sword, and you will have treasure in heaven.

Something like that.; 7/25/11, 4:40 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Freeman, you know what I'm saying. Jesus was all about peace, love and helping the less fortunate.

The complete opposite of the modern conservative.

News: Report of a stabbing in the Wisconsin Capitol. Not confirmed. Report says someone tried to stab a sing-along protestor and got himself. Blood all over.

To my point....; 7/25/11, 4:44 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: For I was hungry and you sent me to the government office for food stamps, I was thirsty and you told me to revisit the food stamps clerk, I was a stranger and you told me to go to City Hall, I was naked and you told me to meet with DHS, I was sick and you told me to fill out an application for a social worker to come and visit me, I was in prison and you told me to meet with my prison counselor for companionship.’

If only we could outsource every good deed to the bureaucracy then we'd never have to be bothered!; 7/25/11, 4:45 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Before I leave, the hatred of government from the right wing is, at essence, a hatred of American principles of self-government.

Conservatives are trying to replace our imperfect democracy with autocratic corporate power.

They hare America, our government and our ideals. Mainly, though, they hate.; 7/25/11, 4:46 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: The complete opposite of the modern conservative.

Oh? Evidence? The latest stats I've seen show conservatives giving more of both their time and money to help their fellow men than their compassionate liberal counterparts.; 7/25/11, 4:47 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Conservatives are trying to replace our imperfect democracy with autocratic corporate power.

A little silly to say that given Obama's record as President. Bought and paid for could be his next campaign slogan.; 7/25/11, 4:49 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: That's what modern liberalism is: picking through political machinations which companies win and which companies lose.; 7/25/11, 4:50 PM
Anonymous said...: Freeman Hunt,

What was Jesus' command to the wealthy man who asked what he needed to do to enter the kingdom of heaven?

How many of these people who are so eager to slash programs that benefit the less fortunate(Ryan for one) really follow his teachings?; 7/25/11, 4:51 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Since you know it so well, you surely recognized my parody of it above.; 7/25/11, 4:51 PM
Anonymous said...: Freeman Hunt said...

Since you know it so well, you surely recognized my parody of it above.

Actually I'm referring to this command to the wealthy man:

"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

God forbid if we have to reduce defense spending or close loop holes on the wealthy tax payers. That's the tea party position, correct?; 7/25/11, 4:59 PM
grackle said...: Palin is a grifter, in it for the dollars. She serves Palin. Period.

Ah, the identifier of grifters, the diviner of motivations, he who can ascertain hidden characteristics and who believes Palin should be poor … with a resounding, “Period,” no less.

If only the commentor could cite a few of his favorite money-avoiding politicians that the commentor believes are not self-serving the commentor might be more convincing. But this is mere name-calling.; 7/25/11, 5:06 PM
Trooper York said...: Seven I appreciate that you weren't talking to me. Sometimes we stake out a position and we have to stick to it because we have been so identified with it that it would be seen as illegitimate if we changed our minds.

It would as if I said Angie Dickinson or Joey Heatherton were ugly and that I preferred Jeanine Garoafalo or Sarah Jessica Horeseface.

Some people have stated over and over that Sarah Palin won't run or that she can't win. I don't know if she will or not but I think she is doing something different that what has been done before. She is trying to bypass the mainstream be it the media or the Republican establishment. She is reaching over their heads directly to the people. She has had missteps and mistakes along the way. But using facebook, tweets, the internet and reality TV is I think the wave of the future.

We need not be set in our positions. We need not fight the last war. It will become clear soon enough.; 7/25/11, 5:07 PM
Meade said...: AlphaLiberal said...
News: Report of a stabbing in the Wisconsin Capitol. Not confirmed. Report says someone tried to stab a sing-along protestor and got himself. Blood all over.

Consider the source. And color me skeptical.; 7/25/11, 5:12 PM
mariner said...: traditionalguy,
Palin needs to announce ASAP to recieve Secret Service protection.

Remember, JFK had Secret Service protection. Fat lot of good it did him.; 7/25/11, 5:14 PM
n.n said...: It is the Democrats, and all left-wing ideologues (in both parties), that need to compromise. They cannot be permitted to continue denigrating individual dignity and devaluing human life.

As for our next president, it will be individuals of integrity, those who affirm individual dignity and the intrinsic value of life, who will be central to their greatness. It may be Sarah Palin, or another man or woman, who is qualified and willing to lead. Who is willing to review and rectify the comprehensive issues afflicting our society, including fundamental and progressive corruption.; 7/25/11, 5:33 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: To believe that is to believe she puts her personal greed over the welfare of the Country.

So, does this personal greed apply to the rest of us too? That if we are not running for President, we are greedy?

Actually, I would suggest just the opposite, that the greedy ones are more likely to run for President. Or, at least the self-important and self-indulgent. After all, what is more self-important than thinking that you are the best man (or woman) for the job, and more self-indulgent than flying AF-1 to NYC for a show or LA for a fund raiser (tying up traffic for hours during rush hour).

I do think that you see this dynamic more on the left than on the right - I am thinking John Edwards, and before him, Gary Hart(less). What was Edwards going to give back to the country if he won? How was he going to help the second America in their trailers just outside his estate?

So, what is more important, saving the world by being President? Or spending quality time with your family as they grow up? Or, in some cases, just getting all the perks and power that come with the office?; 7/25/11, 5:37 PM
grackle said...: News: Report of a stabbing in the Wisconsin Capitol. Not confirmed. Report says someone tried to stab a sing-along protestor and got himself. Blood all over.

Maybe we’ll be lucky and someone managed to get it on a camcorder. Otherwise it’s just going to be the usual back and forth.; 7/25/11, 5:37 PM
dick said...: I think the professor is losing it when she claims that Palin's one trick pony is her fighting corrupt Republican corporations. Actually her one trick pony is fighting corruption wherever she finds it and that is a winning hand in my book. We need someone to fight corruption in DC and it is obvious that the professor's choice in 2008 is about as corrupt as they come. I still fail to understand her logic in 2008 given just how bad Obama was on just about everything. IMNSHO he brought nothing to the table that anyone would want except his race and that was only half there. He had no standards and was ready to throw anyone under the bus if it got him what he wanted. His policies have so far been almost universally wrong and have been predictable so from the beginning and yet the good professor told us all how pragmatic he would be. Seen any pragmatism yet???

With Palin she has from the beginning been able to show the failures of this admin in detail and pinpointed where they have gone so badly wrong and yet the professor says that she is only good at fighting Republican corporate corruption. I really can't see that at all. She has pointed out the errors of logic from the left, right and the middle before anyone else was able to see them. If she brings that game to the WH then she will be a huge advance over Zero - and better yet she is honest.; 7/25/11, 5:43 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

The FALSE Messiah said, "SELL" the Prophet Jesus did not say, "the Sandhedrin shall TAKE...."; 7/25/11, 5:43 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: I have said before, I don't think that Palin is going to run. Why? I think that Michelle Bachmann is her surrogate, and would not have announced of Palin were going to run. They have much of the same constituencies, and they appear to be somewhat friends. And, there isn't room for both of them in the campaign.

I think that Bachmann can run better against Obama than Palin can, despite being in Congress, ad not a former governor. Why? She is decent on her feet, fearless, and is not as toxic to the upper middle class. She was a tax lawyer, and not whatever Palin did before she went into politics. Tax lawyers are well entrenched in the upper middle class. She dresses "right". Etc.

Plus, she is good on her feet, and willing to do battle - and I am pretty sure that Obama is going to screw that up during the debates, if she gets the nomination. Think about the effect on women when he is his usual dismissive self to the little woman.

Back to my point though - they both can't be running, and Bachmann either got the go-ahead from Palin, or is daring her to come out and fight. And, my money is on the former, whether the go-ahead of explicit or suggestive. The one fight neither of them would likely want, would be with each other for the Tea Party vote.; 7/25/11, 5:46 PM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

And Freeman, Christie and Ryan AREN'T running...they've daid so, REPEATEDLY.

And Christie IS a "one trick pony" he stands up to the NJEA very well. Beyond that Gay Marriage, Gun Control, Border Control, he's just a RINO-Squish....

And Ryan's not running.

As to the media CONTINUING to lie about Palin, under that theory we can run NO member of the GOP. Only Palin has had the proctological exam of a life time, and passed. None of the others can even claim much vetting, as of yet. And IF the Medi will lie about Palin, they'd lie aobut ANYONE. So, the only way to avoid Media lies is to run NO ONE. So we might as well run Palin.; 7/25/11, 5:48 PM
dick said...: Actually your interpretation of McCain and the economy was the reason I voted for McCain. McCain realized that the main problem the president would face was the economy and the jobs and in order to solve that problem he and the Congress and Senate would need to be on the same page. Far better to sit down with the legislators and understand what they were working with and having some input where appropriate than having some more stupid photo ops and sound bytes that were the same as the photo ops and sound bytes that had been put up for months. I think we had by that point far too many sound bytes and photos than were necessary and far too little logic in solving the problems the president would face. That was why I think your interpretation of McCain and Obama at point in time was so totally wrong-headed.; 7/25/11, 5:51 PM
traditionalguy said...: Mariner...You have a point.

Maybe we need the Secret Service guys assigned to her so that Palin can protect them, while they all re-load.

That's what Bristol's Baby Daddy seemed to thing about Sarah.; 7/25/11, 5:56 PM
Matt said...: bagoh20
Surely, someone can make a clear case why there is another candidate who would make a better President than Palin.

I think you need to make the argument as to WHY you think she is A#1 in your world view before anyone else explains why she is not. I mean speaking as someone who follows politics it seems to me Palin might be a nice enough person but politically she seems a tad naive in the political arena and may not have what it takes to be President. Maybe you think that is a virtue? But I am not sure how unless you explain it.; 7/25/11, 6:04 PM
poppa india said...: Well Matt, who is less naive? Start with that.; 7/25/11, 6:27 PM
Rose said...: Palin is the most vetted candidate by far. they have hit her with the nuclear grade blowtorch and she is still standing.

NONE of the others can withstand the withering that will come if they are the nominee. Not even Romney. And, face it, no matter who challenges Obama, the media will try to destroy them, and we will be told they cannot win.

Yet he is bleeding support from every quarter as people realize that he is an empty vessel. They looked at his beautiful mirrored facade and saw themselves and their own high ideals and aspirations reflected back at them, and they believed that he shared those same ideals.

He doesn't. And his fraudulent rhetoric cannot stand the light of day, much less the withering blowtorches that may yet come, as even the media is becoming aware and disillusioned. Hell hath NO FURY like a liberal scorned.

It is a shame - his record with the Chicago Annenberg Challenge alone, if examined, would have told everyone, especially academics, you would think, just how worthless a human being he was and is. "Voting present" is the least of his problems. Squandering money for the sake of it is his stock in trade and his real record is littered with examples, if only people had looked. Payoffs for porkulus projects before there ever was that word, Rezko, Ayres, Wright - all the signs were there.

What a sorry shame that we are even having this discussion, or that someone as good as Sarah Palin is put under the microscope and examined as if SHE had one iota of his horrific record, his terrible and dangerous associates, and absolute lack of groking what makes this nation great.

It sickens me to see his appointments, his callous expensive vacations and jet-setting, and his absolute and utter dishonesty on display each and every day.

captcha: sukthe; 7/25/11, 6:37 PM
Rose said...: (He) in my comment above, meaning Obama, the mirrored facade, not Romney. :); 7/25/11, 6:38 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: "Voting present" is the least of his problems.

I thought for a long time that this was because he wasn't confrontational. Something like an Indian colleague of a friend of mine who would walk out of faculty meetings when it looked like there was going to be a contentious voe.

But it looks worse than that in reality. I have heard he had Tom Daschle advising him (yes, the same former Majority leader who didn't pay his taxes), and that Daschle told him that he could not afford to have a record, because it would be used against him. So, his handlers (including Daschle) would tell him which votes were safe to make, and which ones weren't. That way he could run as a moderate, and no one could prove any differently. And it worked, except that Obama couldn't afford to put Daschle into HHS with his tax evasion, after putting Geitner into Treasury with his.; 7/25/11, 7:11 PM
Matt said...: poppa india
Well Matt, who is less naive? Start with that.

How about answer the question rather than asking another one? Let's say for the sake of argument that you think every politician was more naive than Palin. Give us an example as to why you think that.

Rose
It's very interesting to see how people fall over themselves when they think a political savior has come along. The left thought so with Obama but he has proved to be anything but liberal much less left. But Palin's positive record - as Althouse points out - was one that worked by reaching out to Democrats. Yet you and many others think she is the pure right wing savior. But that belief is based on nothing but her rhetoric. I'm not saying the left isn't just as infatuated with the flavor of the month. But face facts. At least Reagan had a track record that made him more bona fide. Palin doesn't have that.; 7/25/11, 7:16 PM
Joel Schwartz said...: Palin won't need the revolutionaries (masquerading as Democrats) as the Republicans will hold the House and the Senate by that time. But she will need the corrupt hacks in the Republican leadership. And given what she did to the Republican leadership in Alaska, they will probably try to find some crafty way to undermine her, rather than submit to the reform agenda she will bring to Washington. If that happens, she will probably form a third party, as she as already hinted at during a number of interviews. Of course, that's assuming the Republican leadership does not cave on the debt talks, because if they do, I think she might form a third party just in time for the primary.; 7/25/11, 7:21 PM
Rick said...: ricpic
That is not a lawyer's argument. Rather, it is a law school professor's "provocative" query. It takes only one to use up an entire class hour.; 7/25/11, 7:29 PM
bagoh20 said...: "It's remarkable that someone would think quitting one office qualifies you for a higher one. Sarah is very special."

Not really, our President did it twice, so I guess it's quite qualifying indeed.; 7/25/11, 7:37 PM
Matt said...: Joel Schwartz

A third party [presumedly led by Palin] would guarantee Democratic victories. Think about it. Split the Republican vote? A gift to the Democrats.; 7/25/11, 7:38 PM
Matt said...: bagoh20
Not really, our President did it twice, so I guess it's quite qualifying indeed.

Obama didn’t quit. He resigned after being elected president because that is what the Constitution requires. While Palin quit suddenly mid-term to persue a job with FOX and go on speaking tours.

Surely, you must see the difference?; 7/25/11, 7:43 PM
Anonymous said...: It takes a month to get down here..

Just thought I'd add a day :)

Blogger....; 7/25/11, 7:46 PM
bagoh20 said...: "I think you need to make the argument as to WHY you think she is A#1"

I never said she was, but there seems to be widespread opinion that she is the worst qualified, and I would just like to see how that's justified, as in compared to who?, but all the critics are silent.

For me, the most important qualifications are ideology, values. If that's not right, then the greatest communicator,or the most experienced or the smartest or the most effective can all be very bad choices.

Pick the worst leaders in history, and it's their ideas and values, not their abilities, that made them bad for their people.; 7/25/11, 7:50 PM
bagoh20 said...: "Surely, you must see the difference?"

Not really. He effectively quit to run, not because he was elected.; 7/25/11, 7:52 PM
Matt said...: bagoh20 said...
For me, the most important qualifications are ideology, values. ... Pick the worst leaders in history, and it's their ideas and values, not their abilities, that made them bad for their people.
This seems to be a contradictory argument. I would argue that ideology and values are almost always worse than abilities because ideology is often not practical with political realities. Being a politician is about riding the wave you are on at the moment - not riding the wave you want to be on.

I don’t think Palin is the worst qualified. Michele Bachmann is. Well and Alan Keyes but he isn’t running. At least Palin has worked with Democrats to achieve a few things. I judge a politician by their ability to work with the other party. It’s what America has always been about.; 7/25/11, 7:59 PM
Matt said...: bagoh20

He effectively quit to run, not because he was elected.

Yeah but he didn't quit. Yes, he ran for office but I would never ever begrudge a politician who made it clear that they were scaling back their political duties in order to run.

I mean they have to essentially do that once they hit the campaign trail. I totally expect Bachamann to do that and I don't blame her for it. But Palin appeared to run away and then follow the money trail with no intention to run for office again. Plus she quit well before a campaign season.

Two different scenarios.; 7/25/11, 8:06 PM
bagoh20 said...: "I judge a politician by their ability to work with the other party. It’s what America has always been about."

Then you must hate Obama.; 7/25/11, 8:13 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Actually I'm referring to this command to the wealthy man:

"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Yes, and the parody read:

If you want to be perfect, go, take alms from your neighbor at the point of a sword, and you will have treasure in heaven.

I guess you didn't scroll up.; 7/25/11, 8:18 PM
roesch-voltaire said...: Absolutely the reason Sarah will run for president and win is because she can generate a good meme, and drag Trump along for the ride-- this blog reveals the "real" America.; 7/25/11, 8:31 PM
Matt said...: bagoh20

Then you must hate Obama.

You'll have to give me an example other than the watered down health care plan - which wasn't his but rather modelled after Romney's plan of individual mandate. Right now the debt ceiling plan Obama proposed along with Reid is GOP friendly all the way through. Plus, Obama kept us in Iraq, increased our efforts in Afghanistan and extented the tax cuts for the wealthy. All approved by the GOP.

In fact, if you look at ALL of the legislation in the past 2 years there is more agreement than not.

In a recent Gallup poll 26% of Republicans support a tax increase of some kind to deal with the debt crisis. The plan that Obama and Reid have offered has NO tax increase. At a certain point you have to realize Obama is reaching out so far he is may as well run as a Republican next term. If he can connect with them at all then there is some kind of success their. Albeit not one my liberal views appreciates...but I'd like something to avoid a default.; 7/25/11, 8:39 PM
chickelit said...: I'll give Matt one thing here. I think he's the only Althouse commenter here today who has consistently been anti-Palin since August 2008.

Not that there aren't a few lurking.; 7/25/11, 8:39 PM
Cedarford said...: Hagar said...
Palin's "greatness" does not lie in party politics, but that she would look at the problem, figure out what looked like a sensible solution for the problem, and go for that.
================
Her claim to greatness is the two years she served as governor before she quit. Fighting Republican corrupto-kleprocats and shaking down the oil companies for more vig for the Alaskan welfare state (a move hugely popular with independents and Dems very protective of TheirState's oil property).

Aside from that, you are talking about a women riding a Jesse Jacksonlike Cult of Personality that has "legs" as they say. Jesse kept his Cult going for almost 15 years. Even when he fared the worst in head-to-head Presidential matchups.
He got as rich as Sarah is now getting, from his devotee's adoration.; 7/25/11, 8:49 PM
chickelit said...: @Matt: I take that back. Cedarford just weighed in. He beats you hands down for longest standing Palin-bashing.; 7/25/11, 8:53 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Chickenlittle, if LoafingOaf shows up, he will win. He could also win in the intensity category.; 7/25/11, 9:35 PM
grackle said...: Obama … has proved to be anything but liberal much less left.

Ha ha ha ha. I KNEW I would get a good laugh today.

… the watered down health care plan - which wasn't his[Obama’s] but rather modeled after Romney's plan.

I love it. Nothing that fails in a public relations sense is EVER Obama’s fault. They usually blame Bush but this time it’s Romney.

Plus, Obama kept us in Iraq …

Immediately after Obama’s inauguration he announced a withdrawal date from Iraq. This in keeping with his campaign rhetoric, in which he characterized the Iraq War as unnecessary and ill-advised.

… increased our efforts in Afghanistan …

Obama low-balled the amount of troops the military said would be needed in Afghanistan. But he could hardly NOT make some sort of effort after painting himself into the Afghanistan corner during his campaign by calling it Bush’s “forgotten” war that deserved more effort.

… and extended the tax cuts for the wealthy. All approved by the GOP.

And NOT approved by Obama. He signed the bill reluctantly. BTW, “wealthy,” in this context is defined as low as $250,000 for couples, $200,000 for individuals.

In fact, if you look at ALL of the legislation in the past 2 years there is more agreement than not.

ALL legislation is not relevant. But with significant legislation Obama’s stance is always left of center.

At a certain point you have to realize Obama is reaching out so far he is may as well run as a Republican next term.

DW-Nominate rates Obama the President as more liberal than Roosevelt, Truman and Johnson, less liberal than Kennedy, Carter and Clinton but definitely liberal.

http://tinyurl.com/3ol8873

When Obama was a Senator he had a perfect liberal voting record.

Obama is only in his first term. With all the expansion of the size of government, taking over the healthcare industry, taking over GM, leftward foreign policy shifts, trips in which he apologized for America, governing by executive fiat, a blizzard of “czars,” etc., he and/or his advisors have probably realized that they better save the out and out Marxist moves for the 2nd term. Gotta get re-elected before igniting the revolution, you know. First things first.; 7/25/11, 10:04 PM
jamboree said...: I agree and I've said it from the beginning - though on a different blog.

The people who didn't know of Palin before her nomination, as I did, didn't really understand how great and quite instinctively clear-sighted she was. Maybe it didn't come from intellect, but from instinct or integrity or street-smarts. So what?

Corporate use of natural resources and the relationship between citizen and global corporation are something that DESPERATELY NEED to be seen clearly by both parties.

She was reduced to a womb joke fodder by those assholes.

I don't think it's her campaigning one way with McCain that changes things - you have to support your running mate and they did run as "Mavericks". Her area of expertise was promoted as Energy. I would understand 10 times over if she then ran on a different platform.

It's her transformation into celebrity personage. You really don't stay the same after that.

We got one chance to get as close to a truly pure person into high office as we will ever have -

and blew it - all for an illusion and womb jokes.

Insane.; 7/26/11, 1:34 AM
Ralph L said...: how awful it was when McCain suspended his campaign because of the financial crisis
Why was it awful? Would you rather he'd "led" from the back?

Congress was asked for the funds to stop a financial panic--if he'd kept on campaigning, the media would have crucified him for neglecting his duties, while Obama skated, of course. Whoever won would have to deal with the fallout of TARP, which probably wouldn't have passed without McCain's support. Most of the Dems were all for bailing out Goldman Sachs, but some Rep votes were needed.; 7/26/11, 3:06 AM
viator said...: Guest column: Can Sarah Palin shake up the GOP?
By Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science

"In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, Sarah Palin shows strengths that none of the other GOP contenders have. According to analysis by the Associated Press "[s]he tops the list as the most empathetic figure and "runs almost even with Romney on the question of who best reflects the party's core values and on who is most compatible with people on the issues."

These are very important "deep" factors that can motivate people to participate politically.

The poll also shows that Palin also has strong support among Republicans without college degrees. This is a group that may or may not be politically savvy and motivated enough to go to the Ames Straw Poll in August or get to a caucus precinct on a cold winter night. However, it is indeed a large and potentially valuable piece of the voting public, especially when you add in the no-party voters without college degrees who can swing either way and who have made the winning difference in past elections.

On the horse-race question — who's ahead and who's coming around the turn at fast speed — Palin got 23 percent and Romney 22 percent among non-college Republicans. However, Romney leads 32 to 9 percent among college graduates.

"Palin is also first or tied for the top spot in both groups when it comes to her connection to people's problems. Above all, it is this "connection factor" that would allow Palin to quickly transform the race, were she to jump in," according to the Washington Post."

"One acquaintance, a lifelong Republican, said, "Steffen, she's like the severe storms center hurricane forecast for the season. When they say this year will be an exceptionally active hurricane season, everyone from the Gulf States to Maine is jumpy, looking over their shoulder, getting plywood ready to board up, getting hurricane supplies, arranging to have their boat hauled out should a big one hit. All of the Republican candidates right now are looking over their shoulder to see if Hurricane Sarah might strike!"

I thought that was a sweet metaphor."

"Palin has a passionate base of support in the public because she represents the only outsider, populist and unpredictable candidate. Oddly enough, she would also be one of the only GOP candidates (Texas Gov. Rick Perry is the other potential new entrant) who has not signed off on pledges from Iowa conservative "kingmaker" Bob Vander Plaats and others. These are "written in stone" promises about deficits, budgets, gay marriage, abortion and foreign policy issues such as Libya and Afghanistan that these candidates will now be bound to for the rest of the 2012 political season."
Palin can, in other words, hover above all of this and swoop down on the GOP adversaries like the bald eagle I saw from the helm of my sailboat, talons out front, snatching a hapless Merganser duck at the tip of Pt. Bolin, right by the U.S. Navy torpedo-testing facility coming into Liberty Bay, Wash. I'm sure the other GOP candidates will scatter just like the fortunate ducks that were in the water but escaped the mighty raptor!"

"By the way, I also heard that there may be a very well-organized grassroots movement to write her name in at the Ames Straw Poll, so keep an eye on that."

http://iowastatedaily.com/opinion/article_46a4ff80-b6c9-11e0-91bd-001cc4c03286.html; 7/26/11, 6:08 AM
Revenant said...: Why was it awful? Would you rather he'd "led" from the back?

I said at the time that he needed to gamble, since Obama was way ahead of him in the race. I still think that was the right assessment.

That being said, it was painful; it didn't work at all. He just ended up looking impotent, in part because he ACTUALLY tried to take charge. This did nothing but piss off the people who had actually been down in the trenches doing the work while he was traveling the country giving speeches.

Classic McCain, really. He's always thought ego was a good substitute for ability. He's got that in common with Obama, come to think of it.; 7/26/11, 7:01 AM
Revenant said...: until recently Ryan was not the deficit hawk he plays today

Ryan qualifies as a deficit hawk only in comparison to Barack Obama. His plan still has us stuck with deficits that would have seemed shockingly high five years ago.; 7/26/11, 7:02 AM
alwaysfiredup said...: Ann, you forget that most of her accomplishments as governor came with bipartisan support. Only her ethics bill required majority Democrat support, for pretty obvious reasons. AGIA and ACES passed with support from both sides, because Palin is the kind of leader who finds area of agreement. Obama can only fight, can only find the sour spot, never the sweet spot. Palin groks the sweet spot.

And I really don't see how anyone can think she wasn't tough enough for the offices she held. Palin is the toughest politician I have seen in my lifetime. She left because it was the best strategic move available to her. If she wins the presidency in 2012, then I think she will have been right.; 7/29/11, 12:01 AM