Posted on 11/19/2010 12:37:20 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
I promised myself that I'd stop defending Sarah Palin. But it's a hard habit to break.
While I found the former Alaska governor refreshing during the 2008 presidential campaign, she has been a disappointment since then. Instead of hitting the books and learning the issues, Palin ditched class, resigned her post and concentrated on making money. As a result, she doesn't seem any more informed now than she was when she exploded on the national scene two years ago. So she tries to get by with a wink and a smile - and the occasional slab of red meat for the GOP base.
Still, many of the attacks upon Palin are unfair and unwarranted - not to mention, eerily bipartisan. It's not enough that she has to put up with a steady stream of snarky criticism from liberal Democrats who obviously feel threatened by the rock-star greeting she gets from the throngs of people who turn out just to catch a glimpse of her at a speech, fundraiser, or book signing.
Those fans can see and hear from her this month with the release of her latest book, "America by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag" and the launch of her new television series, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," on The Learning Channel.
These days, Palin is also getting an icy reaction from conservatives who likewise feel threatened - this time, by what seems to be her bid for greater influence with Republicans in Washington. Recently, Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., a nine-term congressman, told members of a Chamber of Commerce in his district: "Sarah Palin cost us control of the Senate." With no evidence to back up the claim, Bachus insisted that the tea party candidates endorsed by Palin - specifically Christine O'Donnell in Delaware - were so weak that they torpedoed the GOP's chances to reclaim the Senate along with the House.
Really? Bachus may believe that Republicans had a realistic shot at capturing Vice President Joe Biden's old seat if they would have gone with Rep. Mike Castle. But since Castle was defeated by O'Donnell in the primary, we'll never know.
This sounds like just another excuse to bash Palin and the tea party movement, one that continues a thread started just days after the election when Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott caused a stir in GOP circles by telling Politico.com that Republicans had not nominated their best candidates in races that could have been more competitive.
How petty. Before this election, Republicans had become so accustomed to losing that even in victory, they still sound defeated. Instead of being pleased with a strong performance, some GOP lawmakers prefer to see the glass as half empty and portray themselves of victims of an insurgency by the tea party. They never consider the possibility that it was the tea party votes that allowed them to compete in the first place. Nor do they consider the possibility that the GOP establishment might be as much to blame as anyone for not winning control of the Senate.
In any case, what difference does it make why the Senate stayed in Democratic hands? All that matters is that it did. Republicans have to find a way to deal with this reality, and still have a hand in shaping public policy until they can reclaim the White House and/or the Senate in a future election. They should be looking forward and not backward.
Of course, Palin brings much of this criticism upon herself by tweaking her critics. Just recently, she posted on her Facebook page some friendly advice for the incoming Congress.
"Stick to the principles that propelled your campaigns," Palin said. She urged lawmakers to defund "Obamacare." Then, she said, they should cut spending, extend tax breaks, and increase border security. She also told them to "extend a hand to President Obama and Democrats in Congress."
The smart thing for establishment Republicans to do right now is to stop complaining and extend a hand to Sarah Palin.
She's not their enemy. And she can actually do them a lot of good by energizing the masses - the same people they like to think they represent but, in truth, barely recognize.
those in gop who attack palin, are they truly conservatives? Every single one of them support big government
You are not fooling anyone by posting this.
Please tell me who I’m not fooling and what you mean by that...
Repulsive.
I remain resolutely convinced you are a concern troll when it comes to Sarah Palin. I am sure many many others see you in this light as well.
Palin is a Ron Paul wannabe.
Yeah, I have a comment. This sort of transparent "concern" is really getting old.
That's the funniest thing I've read since the last Iowahawk post. Have you been in a coma, a cave or overseas for the last 24 months?!
The real question is this: Is the Republican Party the enemy of Sarah Palin? If they can not reform themselves—I hope she will start a new party. I will join in a heart beat with the goal of having this new party become the second party sending the GOP into the history books like the Whigs and Federalists.
I’m concerned about the concern of your alleged concern.
Now my brain hurts...
I want to know why he thinks she is doing nothing with her brain, why it is bad to make money,especially with 5 kids, and what conservatives would do without her putting up SOMETHING against the socialists that republicans won’t.
If Sarah Palin were a man, there would be no doubt whatsoever that ‘he’ had earned his own shot at the presidency, and would have complete backing by the Party.
People on this web site who continue to trash Sarah Palin should start posting on left-wing web sites where they belong.
The Palin-bashers prefer Obama and his ilk to a true populist conservative like Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin puts her country ahead of the elites of the Republican Party. She proved that against big-shot, corrupt Republicans IN HER OWN STATE whom she defeated to become governor.
The notion Sarah Palin is a lightweight is laughable.
For decades, we have invested America's leadership in Harvard-educated jackasses who have succeeded in bankrupting our nation, have lost control of our borders, have destroyed the best that is America, have made a laughing-stock of transportation security, have weakened our stature throughout the world, have wielded government power, without constitutional authority, to take over banks and auto companies and who have taken away vast chunks of our personal liberty as Americans.
Obama is the epitome of such imbeciles.
We need to quarantine places like Harvard so their infectious mental diseases don't spread further throughout our society.
In Obama, we are right now experiencing the most incompetent American president in U.S. history.
Obama cannot find his ass with both hands and some people on Free Republic dare call SARAH PALIN clueless?
The simple truth is America cannot be saved unless we turn to people such as Palin to lead us out of the idiocy and corruption that has taken control of this once-great nation.
I'm sick to death of the Palin-bashers on this web site. They need to get the hell out of here!
Comments, thanks for the DA waste of time posting el Reuben and the heads up to ignore anything from you in the future!
You’re exactly right! Sarah Palin’s real objective is to grow into a crazy old wizened man who has the charisma of a clam and couldn’t fill a ballroom at a Piscataway, NJ Ramada Inn.
LOL See this is what happens when you are even handed. You of all people, one of Palin’s biggest fans is accused of treachery.
Geesh
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