There’s been a lot of talk about what yesterday meant for the Tea Party movement and specifically, how much Sarah Palin’s endorsements – which she handed out like candy – had to do with the wins and losses. How much of it was anti-incumbent rage? Anti-establishment rage? Anti-big government rage? Melissa Clouthier at Liberty Pundits writes:
I don’t buy the whole anti-incumbent thing. I think that’s a simple simon answer to a more complex question. It’s also a way for the Democrats and Republicans to not take difficult looks at themselves and the position they’ve put themselves in with voters.
I agree. Right now, people resent government as a whole, on both sides of the aisle, and it’s a tough spot for establishment candidates in both parties. There were incumbents who did just fine. Lincoln in Arkansas, despite the rage of the left and a $10 million campaign against her from the unions, managed to eke out a win. Senators who actually listened to their constituencies – a la Jim DeMint – won easily.
But the question everyone’s asking is this: What role did Palin play? I heard someone joke that in this round, she just endorsed anyone with two X chromosomes. I’ve been pretty open with my criticism of her, as well as her establishment endorsements. The honest truth is that I don’t dislike her as much as many of you think I do – I think she serves a purpose in the movement, and I don’t want to diminish the value of her voice or fundraising power. When she speaks, people listen – for better or worse.
That said, when we have the power of Palin and the Tea Party behind the same candidate, they will do well (and yes, I’m consciously separating the two). When Palin decides to endorse an establishment candidate, the vote will be split, and we will likely lose. Case in point: Carly Fiorina. I wouldn’t necessarily make the argument that a Palin endorsement would have won the race for DeVore, but I’m confident that it gave many a pass to vote against their conscience, in addition to deflating the base momentum that Chuck DeVore had built.
Sometimes, it’s best for the big guns to stay far, far away from races.
We also proved that we don’t need a Palin endorsement to win. Tea Party Express, FreedomWorks, and Club For Growth stepped in for Angle, and she easily won the Nevada Senate GOP primary, jumping from single digits to a win in just over a month. I’d be willing to wager that a Palin endorsement for Sue Lowden – you know, since she was the pragmatic choice – would have been a significant ding for Angle.
All that to say that Palin is significant because she represents a large portion of the movement. In many cases, she still has enough pull with the base to make them rethink their candidate selection. She’s also proven that she knows how to pick a winner. It’s just a matter of whether or not her devotion lies to paying back political favors or standing up for the grassroots – there’s no denying that she’s got power.
That is, unless you’re a lefty. And then you can do nothing but analyze her boobs. Feminist rage: engage in 3…2…1…
Oh right, she’s a conservative. Carry on, Boston Herald.
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Chris gets a thrill from Hillary
betsyred (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:11PM EST (link)Chris Matthews said yesterday on Hardball that he thinks the gaining popularity of Republican women this season is because of Hillary. Of course, the Left has to try and grab credit in the face of initial defeat.
I Much The Same Way Reagan Won 1980
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 3:55PM EST (link)because of Edward Kennedy’s brilliant primary campaign against Jimmy Carter. Nobody would have considered voting for an Irish-American Man if Ted hadn’t run. If you believed that last comment to be somewhat full of (redacted), than you probably feel much the same way about 99% of what Chris matthews passes as analysis.
” I side impenitently with the human race against the modern reformer.” – C.S. Lewis
As in, now that they've seen what a liberal woman is like...
randy streu (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 4:23PM EST (link)Americans are ready for Conservative women instead?
Blogging also at
SLC Republitarian
The Minority Report
There IS a huge contrast between Hillary
Flagstaff (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 8:10PM EST (link)and Nikki Haley, Carly Fiorina, Sharron Angle, Meg Whitman, et al, on many levels.
Demeanor
Deportment
Grace
Competence
Achievement
Attitude
and let’s not forget political philosophy.
And can anybody name the husband of any of those Republican women? None of them got where they are today because they’d been married to a President, whereas that’s the only reason Hillary has won any election, and she still hasn’t accomplished anything else of substance.
I have to completely agree with this statement by Melissa Clouthier:
It hasn’t been anti-incumbent, it’s been anti-statist, anti-leftist, anti-Bigovernment, pro-individualism. None of the talking pinheads on TV (including on Fox) have caught on to that.
I will be proved wrong if Sharron Angle loses big in Nevada. I submit that all the “out-of-the-box positions” she has taken will HELP her in the general election, not hurt her as the LSM believes. If we need anything now, it is out-of-the-box thinking; look what in-the-box thinking hath wrought.
In fact, both Fiorina and especially Whitman need to stress that they will not be following the failed liberal policies of the California of the past 20 years. No business as usual. And then they need to tell us what they’ll do that’s different. How about starting with de-certifying the SEIU in California, and telling us why?
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
Boobs are something a lefty can understand
eastbaylarry (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:16PM EST (link)The refreshing, conservative common sense if Palins’ words just confuse them.
2+2=4 dammit!
To quote Sally Solomon from "3rd Rock from the Sun": "They seem to have greater power when they collide..."
Teresa in Fort Worth, TX (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 3:23PM EST (link)And the Democrats are really afraid of ANY kind of power….
Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride…..
You don't have to love Palin. Just respect her.
Adrienne Royer (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:28PM EST (link)Palin doesn’t have to be either/or persona that the media has painted her to be. I’ve gone from being an ardent fan to disliking her endorsements for obvious reasons. Why do we either have to follow her blindly or dislike her? Can’t we respect her and the energy that she brings with her?
While I would like Palin to take a more nuanced position on politics (her “you betcha!” naivete has caused me grow wary of her), she is still a staunch conservative and will likely go down in history as a pioneer for conservative women.
Questions over her boobs are sleazy, and I can’t believe another woman wrote that! It would benefit women on both sides of the aisle to denounce political hits like that. Like they’ve done with Nikki Haley. Oh wait…
I'm also very cool regarding Palin
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 4:31PM EST (link)So long as she stays away from policy-oriented roles, and continues to support Republicans in 2010, I won’t complain. I do find her more ardent acolytes to be tiring, however.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Adding myself to this list
lineholder (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 4:50PM EST (link)Palin has her strengths, but the choices she has been making lately lean a little bit too much in the direction of “politics as usual” for me to like them.
As for who has influence, Jim DeMint has his own subtle behind the scenes way of getting things accomplished. Personally, I think he has as much influence as Palin does if not more so.
Politics as usual?
nepanyrush Wednesday, June 9th at 5:36PM EST (link)She bucked the mainstream with the Haley selection and stood firm against an onslaught of criticism for supporting Fiorina — who, by the way, is pro-life, pro-traditional marriage, anti-health care bill, anti-cap and trade, pro-gun, and opposed to taxes, and really never deserved to be attacked by the tea-party supporters. Do you think any of the other major leaders — Obama, McCain, DeMint, Biden, Clinton (either one) have any of the sway that Palin showed in the primaries? Her endorsements were major for the candidates she supported. She is hardly “politics as usual” with the exception of McCain — but she needs to have loyalty to the one who plucked her from obscurity to where she can impact the political scene as she is doing.
Yeah, "politics as usual"
lineholder (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 6:47PM EST (link)Ms. Palin was very vocal in establishing her reputation as a conservative. I took that as being a reflection of her character as a person.
Anytime I see someone make an endorsement that seems to be out of character, the first thing I do is to question whether I might have been mistaken in that person’s character. The second thing I do is to question how much of that endorsement stems from politics as usual, i.e. that the endorsement has been made in the hopes of political gains in the future.
I question the first to make sure that I haven’t been misled. I question the second to try to take that endorsement in a realistic context. If it turns out that the person making the endorsement has been in the right by doing so, I will gladly admit being in the wrong.
But for the time being, there is just a bit too much of “politics as usual” for me to feel comfortable with it or to wholeheartedly support those endorsements.
Fiorina, pro-life
cwilson (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 6:59PM EST (link)I know she claims to be pro-life. But she’s a politician, and I don’t trust her. Prior to 2008, she appears to have been pro-abortion:
2004: “Fiorina [is] moderate and pro-choice”
but conveniently — running for a Republican nomination — she now is pro-life? But…as with certain other politicians and U-turns, she doesn’t have a “story” to explain this — and just expects everyone to nod and accept?
Other issues were raised by Josh Trevino here at RedState (while working for the Chuck DeVore campaign, so take that for what it’s worth).
But…she’ll be better than Babs, and better than Campbell, on everything else. And both of THEM are adamantly and proudly pro-abortion. So…half-a-loaf and all that, now that the primary is over.
If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom — go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! –Samuel Adams
Then issue now is not an amorphous "trust". Rather, its a choice between trust for
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 7:52PM EST (link)the BoxerObamaDem or who or whatever is running against her, whether it be a pink elephant or Carly. Either could be trusted more than ANY democrat.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
I'll be very disappointed if the Republican party
Flagstaff (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 12:11AM EST (link)rank-and-file and officialdom (and most conservatives) do NOT fall into line and support ALL the winning nominees. We need to do it. DeVore didn’t win, so Fiorina now gets my support, such as it is. Same for Angle, and Nikki (I hope) in SC, and Whitman and all the rest. I’d like to see Dean Martin (familiar name, differnt voice) and JD win in AZ, but if it’s Brewer and McCain, they get my vote.
The LSM, including Fox, is doing the best it can to divide us by talking about the Tea Party movement as if it were a real Party. We can’t fall into their trap of supporting (or not) the nominee because he was (or wasn’t) pushed by the tea partiers. Those primaries are over, and the Republican Party has some new nominees. We now need to help them win.
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
I no longer believe in blindly supporting whoever emerges from the primary
kyle8 (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 7:29AM EST (link)But in these cases I do not see any reason to NOT support the winners.
Except McCain, I would rather a democrat be elected and send that idiot back home, It would be good for the party to get rid of his loathsome presence, and his trained poodle Lindsy Graham, and his big mouth daughter too.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
I'm with you...
sccrenny (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 11:36PM EST (link)kyle8, since I voted for the Dem opposing “Goober” in 2008. Bear in mind the Dem was a former Republican who opposed everything “Goober” had “reached across the aisle” to try to hand the Democrats. It’s awfully frustrating to be in a state where there are practically two Republican parties in play.
When I look at Barack Obama I don’t see black. I don’t see white. I do, however see RED! It’s the same color I see when I look at Pelosi, Reid, ACORN, SEIU…
Precinct Delegate since 2010
I wouldn't say to do it blindly, but
Flagstaff (Diary) Friday, June 11th at 2:37AM EST (link)given the importance of reaching a majority in both houses of Congress, to vote against even a Rino is counterproductive. And that kind of thinking helped give us Obama, and it gave us Clinton twice.
The key to remember is that even the Maine twins help us most of the time, but we need to make them a smaller portion of our number for the times they go wrong. That means elect more Republicans to counter them, not fewer. Scott Brown and Susan and Olympia are still better than their alternatives would have been. If they’re in our caucus, there’s a chance conservative leadership can affect their vote. If they’re in the Dem caucus, not so much.
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
exactly, and in fact, I never use the term tea "party", but only tea "partiers" and yes, Carl Cameron
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 10:33PM EST (link)is an embarrassment in his misunderstanding or deliberate ginning up of a supposed story. But Barone is all over this pointing out that it is the Dems that are facing splits as members run away from Obama.
I have no doubt that Republicans will come out to defeat Dems and that they will be joined by many new republicans inspired by ObamaDems’ great recession and overreach as well as the tea partiers and Dems switching.
The voters will not be denied their chance to punish the liberals.
I am much more interested in the senate and house races on this basis than govs, but not much more. Only because it is in Cingress where we repeal ObamaCare and Obama budgets etc…
In SC, I would say that party does not matter as much, but still matters.
more later
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Thanks, Flagstaff and Gamecock!
SoFiMil (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 11:41PM EST (link)I hadn’t realized the significant etymological difference between the term *party* and *partiers*. You’re exactly right, though. From now on, I will use the term partiers.
www.suvstrategery.blogspot.com
Negative business reports will be used against Fiorina, of course.
Flagstaff (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 12:01AM EST (link)That’s only fair, given that she is being marketed now as a “successful CEO and business leader,” two claims Obama and Boxer simply can’t make. It won’t make much difference, IMHO, because that path will be rebutted by tales of her successes, and it will devolve into dueling business analysts. Nobody will pay attention for long (assuming that she has some successes to point to).
I particularly liked this statement in the linked article:
Too bad she isn’t running for Governor or President. That would be a great asset in those jobs.
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
What's 'nuance' mean?
avgjo (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 4:48PM EST (link)Sorry, from what i’ve seen, ‘nuance’ = b.s. Palin’s ‘you betcha’ to me smacks of decisiveness and a willingness to commit to a position, both very rare things in this time, and probably why Palin is so loved.
I’m not attributing the above to you; i’m just curious what a conservative means when they use ‘nuance’; my experience with this term is confined to seeing lib and elitist republicans use it as an ambiguous insult/compliment, depending on the person about whom it is used. the insult (framed with the adverb ‘not’) seems to mean ‘too blunt for our delicate sensibilities’ or ‘doesn’t speak in sufficiently impenetrable academicspeak’. As a compliment, it seems to mean ‘well-versed in the obscure and irrelevant; someone who will not tell you what they think; someone who speaks in impenetrable postmodern blather’. Disclaimer, these are my own inductively ( in the empirical sense) arrived-at definitions
Obama is very ‘nuanced’. (Feb 8, 2010 ‘…Obama’s nuanced approach on race is frustrating some black leaders and scholars.’ NYT)
Reagan was not very ‘nuanced’. (‘Nuanced understanding was never a Reagan strong point.’ Lou Cannon)
Frankly, as far as I can tell, Palin’s only substantive mistakes were resigning (opens her to charges of thin-skinnedness and amateurism) and letting McCain’s handlers change her during the election. She seemed to run Alaska well, and when she’s herself, she is quite the communicator.
Ceterum autem censeo, Obamaecuram esse delendam.
For me, saying that someone's understanding
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 6:12PM EST (link)of an issue is “nuanced” means that that person has an understanding of said issue which is learned, arrived at after much thought and contemplation, and not determined by superficial talking points, popular narratives, or other determinants which have nothing to do with the effectiveness or outcome of a policy. To shorten, I would say that it would be to have a deep and substantive understanding of policy and its effects independent of superficial headwinds, and a dedication to intellectual honesty and consistency. Sarah rarely seems to be able to articulate the intellectual or factual underpinnings of her beliefs on-camera (witness this painful O’Reilly segment), and that’s the only real measure that we have of that quality. In contrast, I would say that Fred Thompson, Chuck DeVore, and Mitch Daniels are nuanced candidates.
The problem with a lack of nuance or sophistication is that, in a charged partisan environment, it tends to make every choice a binary proposition: either the Republican solution or the Democratic solution. In addition, it leads to the cafeteria-style choosing of freedom that so plagues our Republic (people should have the freedom to bear arms, but allowing them the freedom to spend their money as they see fit is WRONG!). In Palin’s case, it means that she’s more likely to support foolish propositions simply because they are supported by other Republicans. A lack of nuance is obviously surmountable, and not even close to being at the top of my list for competent executives, but in the absence of a consistent record of competent governance (which Palin doesn’t have) and a lack of policy papers, such a quality is more important.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
you make sense, aesthete. You have to forgive
avgjo (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 9:19PM EST (link)me. I am close to finishing two degrees (math and political theory) and in both departments, i meet all kind of ‘nuanced’ (in the sense the MSM uses it) people (some even self-described), and they are mostly full of it.
I agree it is good that someone be able to demonstrate a level of dialectical subtlety with regards to their position. But I think it was Socrates that told us that some are philosophers by nature; though they can’t always discursively reason about what they hold to be right or wrong, they have a finely honed pneumatic and noetic apparatus. In other words, those are the folks who say ‘I can’t put my finger on it, but something ain’t right,’ and they are always dead-on. I think Palin is one of those. Plato, anyway, thought that philosophers were most fit to rule. She’s a ‘philosopher by nature’, and so I don’t believe she would just sign off on something just because it’s republican; indeed, she can be quite the thorn in the side to the GOP.
As to the buffet problem you refer to, that’s a consequence of the moral and epistemological relativism that plagues America on all sides. Take people who are fiscal conservatives but social liberals. Fiscal conservatism is rooted in right and wrong; it is right that someone should keep the fruits of their labor and have control over their own property. It is wrong to take from those who have earned property to give it to people who are unwilling to work. But why are these right and wrong? There must be some absolute Arbiter of right and wrong. If there is not, it is very difficult epistemologically to justify a immutable principle of right and wrong. (What would you root it in? If man is the arbiter of right and wrong, then the ones with the most power or numbers determine what is right and what is wrong), Then we devolve into situational ethics, and that’s friendly territory for our liberal adversaries with regard to redistribution of wealth. But if there is an Arbiter of right and wrong, what does He think of abortion, gay marriage, all the other controversial issues? Many self-described fiscal conservatives don’t want to deal with these issues; it’s a buffet approach. The reason that many make a democrat or republican decision is that they view the world through such a systematic lens. They (i am one of them) believe that you can’t have one (fiscal) without the other (social). I will certainly grant that not all republicans are created equally, neither is the party at large incapable of disappointing me. On the whole, though, their stated platform is fairly consistent in terms of social and fiscal conservatism. As with everything in life, it is a matter of approximation; i cannot always have the ideal candidate to vote for, so i will choose the one whose values are closest in line with mind and in almost all cases, that’ s the Republican.
Ceterum autem censeo, Obamaecuram esse delendam.
They really are
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 10:07PM EST (link)Most try to disguise the parity that their own beliefs have with those of the hoi polloi through different language, but in doing so, make themselves more parochial than the most stiff-necked Southerner could hope to be.
Concerning morality, I agree: I tend to hold more libertarian views on domestic issues, but as a Christian, have always thought that it would be difficult to justify shared morality of any sort (even one as basic and elemental as the Harm Principle) without believing that there is some objective sense of good and evil outside ourselves. Where I draw the line is in saying that public morality should be separated from personal morality, and that having that public morality be based on the harm principle (i.e., so long as I’m not bothering anyone else, it’s not your right to force me to change my behavior) is a nice bright red line, and one that modern liberals and conservatives ignore from time to time (modern progressives and socialists, in contrast, don’t even pretend to care about that line). (I include the unborn among possible recipients of harm, and am thus for government criminalizing abortion.) I acknowledge that others have different lines, and I’m not going to let what are mostly aesthetic differences get in the way of me allying myself with social conservatives, but I don’t personally consider myself one. In that alternate universe where our fiscal problems are resolved, I’m guessing that there’s an aesthete trying to get avjoe to agree with him on the drug war and gay marriage, but our fiscal woes today are too big for me to have the luxury of making stands on such trifling matters: and anyways, I’m sure that you agree with me that the outsourcing of responsibility, the social conditioning that goes on in public schools, and the power given to maladroit politicians are at least as much to blame for the current state of affairs as is substance abuse or the sexual revolution.
Concerning Palin, I would rather not speculate on her philosophy: personally, I find that stylistic critiques and accolades, much like with Obama, reveal more about the person making the analysis in Rohrschach test fashion. She seems like good people; beyond that, I don’t know her and will refrain from commenting any which way. It’s why I tried to limit myself to her public statements when I made my initial post on nuance. It may well be that she is the sort that you describe: someone with an instinctual knowledge that something’s wrong, even if she can’t place what it is. I prefer to look at what she’s done, and looking at her record, there really isn’t much to show that she would make a good President, and there are other candidates with a better record of cutting government. (Although she’d easily make a better President than Obama, that’s a low bar to trip over!)
Like I said, she’s using her gifts to get conservatives over the top on November: that’s what we should all be doing, so for now, I’m happy with letting her do her thing, even if some of her supporters are obnoxious.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
I am familiar with Palin since before the '08 campaign, and find that
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 11:31PM EST (link)she takes the conservative position on most all issues, was a great mayor and governor and fought and beat the corrupt good ole boys.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
reply to ''For me, saying that someone's understanding''
pantera Wednesday, June 9th at 7:20PM EST (link)like barack you mean….
he understands on many levels but still comes to the wrong conclusion and governs for mediocrity…
give us someone with ”wisdom:the ability to apply knowledge correctly”.
thats palins,reagans etc. strength
We can, and should, have both
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 8:08PM EST (link)And Reagan was not a simpleton armed simply with homespun wisdom: read his policy papers.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Agreed. I hope i didn't come across
avgjo (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 8:49PM EST (link)as though I thought Reagan was a lightweight, He was quite brilliant, in Aristotle’s sense of the spoudaios. Obama, on the other hand, is merely a sophist (although i hesitate to give him even that credit; at least those guys didn’t need teleprompters, and their b.s. sometimes sounded convincing.)
Ceterum autem censeo, Obamaecuram esse delendam.
I interact with Obama's type every day
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 9:00PM EST (link)in the academic calendar. They’re not particularly sophisticated, intelligent, thoughtful, or open-minded: they just know how to talk. If you’ll notice, most of Obama’s “above the fray” statements are little more than a restating of a strawman, which he will then vaguely contrast with a liberal idea, so that he can push his solution as “centrist”. It’s quite prevalent in academia, and is truly a convenient way to brush aside opposing views that one has no answer to.
You didn’t come across that way at all: I very much understand wanting to see where the “nuanced” compliment comes from, when coming from conservatives. Most of those in the media and the masters of popular discourse use the term to say, in effect, “good politician!” or “bad politician!” John Edwards himself has been the recipient of such accolades (!), and it’s apparent that he’s just your dime-store demagogue. Some Republicans (yes, David Brooks, that would be you) do the same.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Ditto.
Brent Teichman (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:30PM EST (link)I agree with every word of this post, Tabitha. Palin is a bit of a conflicted mystery with some of her endorsements (McCain, Fiorina), but there is no question that she wields a lot of influence with the voters right now. Overall, though, I think she will continue to push the Republican Party to the right, much like Reagan did. Despite what the political punditry would lead us to believe, I still think this is a recipe for victory in 2010 and beyond. Republicans would be well-served to sit up and take note.
It would have been difficult for Chuck DeVore to win in Lefty California, so I have to think that Palin is thinking about the “big picture” with her endorsements, and that she simply is doing everything she can to move the entire country to the right. Give Scott Brown and Carly Fiorina over Ted Kennedy and Babs Boxer any day. Fight the fights you know you can win (i.e. Nikki Haley in SC, Rand Paul in KY) and do the best you can in unfriendly territory (Fiorina in CA). Overall, the country, as a whole, comes out on the winning side…
#Thune2012
“It does not take a majority to prevail… but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.” –Sam Adams
The mood is not an amorphous "anti-incumbent" one. It is anti-ObamaDem leftist policies - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 5:20PM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
But, in a dither though the left may be,
romeg Wednesday, June 9th at 2:33PM EST (link)there is no denying that she’s still pretty hot, eh?
“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – C. S. Lewis
True story.
Tabitha Hale (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:37PM EST (link)I’ve said before that I want to look like her when I grow up.
Tabitha Hale
http://tabithahale.com
@pinkelephantpun
Palin is the only Republican that can
Tbone (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:43PM EST (link)really change a race by propelling a low recognition candidate into her spotlight.
As for the boobs, I think I feel a tingle.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Palin stayed of NV
chihank Wednesday, June 9th at 2:43PM EST (link)Palin stayed out of NV due to conflicting interests. SBA List endorsed Lowden. Tea Party Express backed Angle. Chuck Heath, Palin’s father, hosted fundraisers for Danny Tark.
Conflicting interests didn't matter in CA.
Tabitha Hale (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:50PM EST (link)nt
Tabitha Hale
http://tabithahale.com
@pinkelephantpun
I just want to go on record
Darin_H (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:48PM EST (link)that I’m pro boobs (as long as they’re the anatomy type and not the Biden type).
A visionary coward says that anger can be power, as long as there’s a victim on TV – Flat Top, Goo Goo Dolls
The More The Left Smears Palin . . .
1689 Wednesday, June 9th at 2:50PM EST (link)The sleazy smears show how much Comrade Obama’s communist and liberal lunatics fear a conservative christian woman . . . one with the huge potential for leading young women away from the spiritual suicide offered by the left.
It doesn't say much...
itsonlywords (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 2:56PM EST (link)For a person’s conscience if an endorsement here or there can induce them to vote against it. I’d like to hope conservatives are better than that.
Tu ne cede malis sed contra audientor ito. ~Virgil
Do not give in to evil, but proceed evermore boldly against it.
People have a hard time making decisions
earlgrey (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 3:00PM EST (link)So they let other people do it for them.
55555 earlgrey
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 10:18PM EST (link)That’s what happens with Cult followers. Palin can endorse some real questionables like McCain, and they flock to her word. Then they excuse her endorsements as “loyalty.” Just like someone said here today, Fiorina was a loyalty endorsement, because she was a McCain person. If you fall into the game of spending your chips, and, not following what you believe in, you are willing to be a bought and paid for establishment type. Her endorsements of her old days with the McCain campaign are wearing very thin.
Is there any possible way we can not buy into the cheap taudry leftists talking points, and ignore their anatomatical references. Even acknowledging their assinine points only makes us look cheap.
Palin is the big winner
clintonformccain Wednesday, June 9th at 3:11PM EST (link)I think that Sarah Palin is the big winner in all of this. Her endorsements clearly carry weight. She’s arguably the most influential political figure in the country right now.
——-
BTW, Chris Matthews is an idiot, but Hillary Clinton did influence the political landscape. Just not in the way he’s thinking. He has no idea the depth and breadth of disenfranchisment still felt by Clinton Democrats. Remember, she won virtually every large primary state. The sexism exhibited by the Democratic left and the beltway pundits left some very bitter feelings. The traditional blue-collar Democrat — the Reagan Democrats — are lost to the current Democratic party and I am sure that they are playing in role in many of these states. They certainly did in Massachusetts.
Look at my name...
clintonformccain Wednesday, June 9th at 3:16PM EST (link)I would vote for a ham sandwich over a Democrat in November. Martha Coakley was a college classmate of mine. I don’t care. I was thrilled to vote for Scott Brown. This country can’t survive one party rule with no checks and balances. It’s amazing how brain dead these politicans are. You have to keep beating them over the head with a 2 by 4, over and over and over again. The only power the voters have is to throw the bums out and then, next time, throw the new bums out… until somebody starts listening.
I agree. Palin the big winner
nepanyrush Wednesday, June 9th at 5:28PM EST (link)Just look at these columns from National Review
http://article.nationalreview.com/435868/palinistas-party/robert-costa
and from Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/06/09/palin-factor-shakes-gop-primaries-endorsed-candidates-fare/?test=latestnews
Bottom line: Her endorsements made a big difference, more so than the endorsement of any other. Her star has never been brighter. She was impressive in not only her endorsements, but in standing up strong against criticism from both the GOP establishment and the tea party. Clearly, she is her own women and one with strong convictions, even though her convictions may differ from the author of this piece.
So am I to extrapolate that "boobs" would have helped Chuck?
Marcus_Traianus (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 3:15PM EST (link)I suppose you could take that several ways- n’est-ce pas? Frankly, based on last nights returns many interpretations prove that would have been a positive factor.
Frankly, I believe Palin attracts a certain cross-section of the electorate that is partially shared with “Tea-Party” affiliates. She also (in my humble opinion) has single-handily taken over the former “soccer-mom” demographic- many of whom can identify with the common, every day mom that changes their own babies diaper, does the bills, drives the kids, does not speak in ivy league dialect and gets pissed off every time liberals make fun of Palin’s simple ways. I for one hope they keep it up, so to speak.
By the way, I think Palin is done as a candidate. But as one arrow of the quiver of traditional values representation- she has only just begun.
“Both of our political parties, at least the honest portion of them, agree conscientiously in the same object—the public good; but they differ essentially in what they deem the means of promoting that good. One side believes it best done by one composition of the governing powers; the other, by a different one. One fears most the ignorance of the people; the other, the selfishness of rulers independent of them. Which is right, time and experience will prove.”.Thomas Jefferson
I agree
clintonformccain Wednesday, June 9th at 3:20PM EST (link)“By the way, I think Palin is done as a candidate. But as one arrow of the quiver of traditional values representation- she has only just begun.”
——–
That’s pretty much the way I see it, too. I think she has figured out that not being a candidate is a liberating experience that only gives her more efffectiveness. We’ll see.
She certainly sends the lefties into fits.
At Least The Most Prominent Boobs on The Right
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 3:31PM EST (link)are attached to one of our leadership figures. The two most prominent ones on the Left are in The White House. It’s been over 50 days Barack, if you can’t figure out who’s butt to kick by now, the experts won’t be able to help you.
” I side impenitently with the human race against the modern reformer.” – C.S. Lewis
The DeVore Psychosis Around Here
dirkbelig Wednesday, June 9th at 3:59PM EST (link)It’s nearly 4 pm EST and I have yet to see Erick address the epic repudiation of his cheerleading for Chuck DeVore. While DeVore may have been the best conservative candidate, the simple fact that he finished a waaaaaaaay distant third to Carly – who garnered over half the vote – makes all of Erick’s calls for Carly to drop out of the race to clear the path for Chuck seem all the more ludicrous than they did without the benefit of hindsight.
When over half of the voters go for the candidate you were demanding drop out because they had no chance to win, that’s a hint that perhaps you need to open a window and get some fresh air in the house because you’re clearly hallucinating on what you’re breathing. While Carly may not be the true conservative’s best friend, would you rather pout and have Barbara “Call me SENATOR, DAMMIT!!!” Boxer re-elected? Get over it.
“This would be a great job if it weren’t for the ****ing customers.” – Randal Graves, “Clerks”
Some people don't like being proven wrong
Adjoran (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 4:13PM EST (link)It seems some are still even for the crooked buffoon Hayworth because of lingering McCain grudges. Great, so nominate one of the few people who never either returned Abramoff lobbyist contributions or apologized for being in the lobbyists pocket, a guy who violated election laws by not reimbursing Abramoff for the uses of his stadium sky box for fundraising events, a guy who blew a safe House seat, a guy who has embraced “birtherism” and all sorts of other idiocy on his radio show.
He’s the only chance the Democrats have of winning this seat, and some half-wit conservatives seem determined to give it to them.
For some of us the important thing is reforming the system. Others want revenge first and foremost.
No, it's close the window and run your car in the garage for a while
JoeG Wednesday, June 9th at 4:33PM EST (link)Erick’s problem is that he’s been breathing fresh air for a while. You have to smell fumes for a while before you can think like a Californian.
In hindsight the fact that California sent Boxer to Washington for 30 years should have been a hint that Carly was a winner. Carly will win, and her and the state deserve each other.
Wait til she endorses Bill Connor in SC
redstatereadersc Wednesday, June 9th at 4:30PM EST (link)it’s not just about the women
As someone who likes Palin
katiejane Wednesday, June 9th at 4:46PM EST (link)I tend to find the implication that Palin is a useful tool who “serves a purpose in the movement, and I don’t want to diminish the value of her voice or fundraising power” rather irritating.
It sounds like you’d be willing to join the mocking of Palin except that you want her to march to your drumbeat, endorse candidates you think she should and raise money for people you think are so much better than she.
Not the way to get Palin supporters on-board to support other other candidates.
Katie-Jane, we aren't mocking Palin
lineholder (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 5:19PM EST (link)Palin presented herself as a conservative, but some of the choices she has made lately simply indicate a willingness on her part to follow the path of “politics as usual” that is so rampant in our country. A lot of us have simply grown weary of the whole “politics as usual” kind of attitude, so we have our share of questions about where Palin really stands on some things at the present time.
The best thing I can say to you would be that as a citizen you have the right to vote. YOU have the right to vote. So regardless of who endorses whom, when where, why or how, become informed on the candidates in the race and vote for the candidate you believe will do the best job.
Just because Palin
katiejane Wednesday, June 9th at 5:49PM EST (link)isn’t as hardcore as you wanted her to be that does not mean she isn’t conservative. I am not a “litmus test” voter – rather one who is interested in getting more conservative candidates in office., not just the most conservative.
If you want to use your vote for “principle” by supporting someone who has little chance of getting elected that is your right. Personally I’m willing to accept a less conservative candidate ove rthe liberal.
But I’m a little confused why you seem to have such an issue with some of Palin’s endorsements since you agree that each voter needs to assess the candidates for themselves – isn’t that what Palin has done?
Just because Palin
katiejane Wednesday, June 9th at 5:49PM EST (link)isn’t as hardcore as you wanted her to be that does not mean she isn’t conservative. I am not a “litmus test” voter – rather one who is interested in getting more conservative candidates in office., not just the most conservative.
If you want to use your vote for “principle” by supporting someone who has little chance of getting elected that is your right. Personally I’m willing to accept a less conservative candidate ove rthe liberal.
But I’m a little confused why you seem to have such an issue with some of Palin’s endorsements since you agree that each voter needs to assess the candidates for themselves – isn’t that what Palin has done?
Sarah Palin is perfectly free
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 6:18PM EST (link)to endorse the candidate of her choosing. Likewise, supporters and commentators are free to approve or disapprove of said endorsement. She actively pursues the spotlight; therefore, her actions as a public figure are subject to criticism. She has no apparent problem with this, so I don’t see why her supporters should.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Let's not get carried away...
reddogreport (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 6:50PM EST (link)Palin’s endorsed candidates won primaries, not general elections.
The problem that Palin has always had is that she garners STRONG support among the Conservative/Republican/Tea Party crowd, but her support ends there. Moderates and liberals despise the woman.
Remember, Palin endorsed Tim Burns in PA-12 race (so did I) and he lost by 7.
We will see how this all plays out in the general election and then we can start talking about Sarah Palin’s boobs.
Brian O’Connor
Red Dog Report
http://www.RedDogReport.com
“Conservative Opinion”
@RedDogReport
You better check you definitions, Sparky.
Tbone (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 7:49PM EST (link)“Moderates and liberals despise the woman.”
Saying that moderates despise her is; A: an unsupported generality, and; B: probably makes one by definition not a “moderate”.
As for even bothering to mention that liberals despise her, pfft.
OK, we’ll just put you in the “Palin makes me feel inadequate camp” and be done with it.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
I agree
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 8:04PM EST (link)Fortunately, Palin knows her strengths and doesn’t campaign for candidates outside states where her appeal is strong. Like I said before, if she keeps on keeping on, I have no complaints. Her “keeping on” wouldn’t, however, be justification for her holding executive office when contrasted to her intemperate and poor record, such as it is.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
37 points, guys.
Rich Fader Wednesday, June 9th at 6:54PM EST (link)I’m open to the argument that Sarah Palin’s endorsement helped Carly Fiorina at Chuck DeVore’s expense. But as highly as I (still) think of the gov, not that much, nor anywhere near. Ronald Reagan and Lee Atwater both could come back to earth in heavenly glory, and they couldn’t get that many Republican primary voters to vote for a candidate if they really wanted somebody else.
Common sense born of desperation
cactusjack Wednesday, June 9th at 7:33PM EST (link)For POTUS: I hope I can vote for Palin. Or maybe Bachman or Pence some day! I wish I could have voted for Romney. I wish I could have voted for Huckabee. I wish I could have voted for Duncan Hunter. I would have even voted for Giuliani. The list goes on. And at the end of the day I did vote for McCain, an American hero….
..seeing what our choice was.
Remember what we see right in front o f us, Obama is that bad.
N-I-Z-E
pantera Wednesday, June 9th at 7:00PM EST (link)palin endorsed carly because of their mcain relationship…
i respect her loyalty…
had she endorsed jd hayworth that would have made me question her respect for ”chain of command”.
if conservatives can get control of the senate mcain will follow along”gripping all the way”
sarahs not a 90lb. hollywood twig shes a 130lb, 40+ y/o hotty and i love her…I WANT A LIFE SIZED PALIN DOLL OF MY OWN…
Palin endorsements do work.
antisocial (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 7:34PM EST (link)And I don’t understand the constant “Looking for her support for The Movement ” and otherwise dumping her. I find that weird and opportunistic.
Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
—————————–
What is to be done?
——————————
No. You can’t – Moe Lane
——————————
The Emperor has no clothes!!!
To be frank
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 7:53PM EST (link)the converse idea (“Let Sarah be Sarah”) seems to me to be overly deferential to the person or idea of Sarah Palin. I’d venture a guess that those who make such statements would be the last to say, “Let Barack be Barack”. Ultimately, I care much more about what a person can bring to, yes, “The Movement”, than how “The Movement” can serve a specific person.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
When the movement is essential
lineholder (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 8:27PM EST (link)to protecting and preserving the sovereignty of our nation, I wholeheartedly agree. The movement is the top priority, not the people.
Oh, of course
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 9:02PM EST (link)The movement’s aligning with sovereignty and individual rights was implicit in my statement.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
See I don't have a problem either way.
antisocial (Diary) Thursday, June 10th at 12:06AM EST (link)My point is most conservatives tend to demean her AND are more than willing to accept help. Why do that? Why bother to be derogatory? Assume she decides to run for any Office. Primaries can take care of that.
So we like when she endorses our candidates. Palin is the seal of approval. When she endorses somebody that we don’t particularly like, she is clueless. Of course we welcome “fundraising”. We want her to campaign.
I hate the hypocrisy. Let the candidates reject her endorsement.
I want us to be honest. At least with people on our side.
Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
—————————–
What is to be done?
——————————
No. You can’t – Moe Lane
——————————
The Emperor has no clothes!!!
Sarah did it again!
SirGladiator (Diary) Wednesday, June 9th at 8:47PM EST (link)She scored huge last night, she helped Conservatives get elected in a big, big way. Not only did she help bring Nikki Haley from obscurity to the SC Governor’s Mansion, but she helped Conservatives stop the ultra-liberal front runner in the CA Senate race, he went from the lead to losing by like 30 points! She also helped elect the next Governor of Iowa also, who had a pretty strong challenge from the Huckabee guy. Hmmm, I wonder if Palin’s candidates for Governor in Iowa and SC beating Huckabees candidates last night could have some kind of relevance a year or so from now? Let me think…..
Its really amazing the way she’s been able to help her candidates win, she’s going to have a unique advantage in 2013 when she goes into the White House to clean up Obama’s mess, she’s going to have a LOT of folks to work with who she helped put in office in the first place, folks who she trusts and who she knows can help her solve America’s problems, and together they’ll be able to help make our Country better than ever! Keep up the great work Sarah!
I'd like to talk about her boobs.
Veronica (Diary) Friday, June 11th at 3:03AM EST (link)Consevative women have bigger boobs than scrawny, lefty, vegetarian women.
That’s right, all you Miss Unmarried Femogynists (Not you, Tabitha).
It’s because we have children and don’t abort them.
And they grow..and get larger.. and our men like them!
Beat that, you Pats, you sexless females!!
Power to Conservative Women!
May God bless the US so that it may follow the leadership of the real women of this country…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
great post, btw, Tabitha!/nt
Veronica (Diary) Friday, June 11th at 3:04AM EST (link)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~