Posted on 09/01/2008 11:47:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin last week by Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been explained in the media as a "game-changer," "bold," "daring," and in keeping with the Arizona senator's "maverick" image.
But here's what the decision means for across-the-board conservatives: vital.
Before McCain's decision many on the Right (including myself) were alternately ambivalent, disaffected, or outright opposed to the idea of voting for him. After years of nose-thumbing acts by the GOP candidate towards many of his party's colleagues and its base, the temptation for conservatives to register a protest vote (most likely Libertarian Bob Barr) -- or not showing up at all -- was strong.
However, the Palin pick has overturned the apathy towards McCain, in one swell foop (I've always wanted to write that!), into a Republican ticket that is critical for conservatives to support.
Why? Because as Fred Barnes wrote in the Wall Street Journal over the weekend, "should the McCain-Palin ticket win the election, it will produce a huge change in the party itself. Mrs. Palin would become first in the line of succession to become the next Republican presidential nominee and would usher in a new generation of leaders."
That cannot be underestimated. The choice of the Alaskan governor could mean, finally, the elevation of the Tom Coburn/Jim DeMint/John Shadegg reform element of the party over the Ted Stevens/Duke Cunningham/Jerry Lewis old guard.
But more importantly, it could restore to the GOP the principled and inspired conservatism that has been absent from the two top spots since Ronald Reagan left office in 1989. Recall the last 20 years and sigh: Bush/Quayle, Dole/Kemp, and Bush/Cheney. President George H.W. Bush squandered his inheritance and was never in the Reagan mold. Sen. Robert Dole was the "it's his turn" establishment candidate that did not enthuse. And our current president was not the conservative that his early anointers pretended he was.
So the McCain/Palin ticket -- dead even with Obama/Biden, who enjoyed no Democratic convention bump -- holds the most promise in years for delivering the Right from the wilderness. It may not pay immediate dividends in a McCain presidency, but Palin could represent the beginning of a conservative restoration for a long time.
Of course, how it all pans out remains to be seen. McCain's pandering plays to liberals (including the media) could rub off on Palin instead of the other way around. But her record so far shows that she has taken on entrenched Republicans who have lost their way -- the good (unlike much of McCain's) kind of reform that the Right longs for.
Adherents to conservative principles would play a large role here, despite McCain's reputation for stubbornness. If the base, including energized social conservatives, turn out in force for this year's GOP ticket, then they'd have at least have the credibility to remind the him of that and that they should have a voice. How about this for a challenge to a President McCain: "Listen to your (political) wife!"
Of course, many who are inclined to support McCain/Palin have not achieved complete comfort with her. Much is still unknown about her, and questions about her judgment, her background, and whether she lives as she talks will be examined. Democrats and liberal bloggers will make sure every question about her gets scrutinized. While the news of her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy does not undermine Palin's legitimacy as a candidate, an absence of any more surprises would help. The 60-or-so days left in the campaign are plenty enough time for voters to decide whether she passes muster.
Assuming she does, it will then be not only helpful, but necessary for conservatives to get behind the ticket. Palin represents their views across the spectrum, even if McCain doesn't always. Her profile has been elevated higher and faster than anyone in the base could have hoped, and promoting pro-life, limited-government, and freedom-loving principles in such a dynamic package is an incredible opportunity that cannot be allowed to slip away.
Paul Chesser is an occasional contributor to The American Spectator online.
I think Palin reminds McCain of the conservative he used to be when he was younger. The McCain that didn’t have to worry about running against Bush in 2000.
“That cannot be underestimated. The choice of the Alaskan governor could mean, finally, the elevation of the Tom Coburn/Jim DeMint/John Shadegg reform element of the party over the Ted Stevens/Duke Cunningham/Jerry Lewis old guard. “
It’s not just about going for conservatives or executive experience. The GOP has a RINO problem but also a problem with conservatives, like Duke and Tom Delay. Republicans need to go back to the Newt freshman and reform the entire system.
Unfortunately, this article doesn’t also give any ideas on how to successfully energize all of the other political races that are also happening at every political level. There truly needs to be some decent and successful “political coattails” seriously created by the McCain/Palin Presidential ticket as well as by a variety of other groups, so that many other conservatives, at every level, and many other Republicans, at every level, can also truly succeed in their political races on November 4!
I’m in. (and boy was I out of it before this)
Period.
NOT from the GOP!
Everyone's acting like we got a new nominee to vote for. Truth is that nothings changed today that we didn't have last week.
SSDD
'Strong'? Stupid, IAC.
To make such a statement proves you really need to pay attention.
A revived Republican party isn't going to come from nowhere. We simply don't have attractive conservative candidates that can make IMPACT on the American public.
Now we have a chance to drive a wedge between the libs and the younger generations.
You are so very wrong--EVERYTHING has changed from last week. You just don't want to see it because it isn't changing to your specifications. The world doesn't work that way. If you want to sit it out and help Obama win--which not giving his opponent does--then please tell us where this change IS going to come from?
Well, I wouldn't go that far.
She makes it a bit easier, but McCain is going to have to quit worshiping at the AlGorean Temple of GlobullWarming and drop his idiotic, economy killing, Cap and Trade nonsense before I'll be able to even consider it.
Either that, or the dumbass thought they were saying "Captain Trade", and since occasionally Navy ships occasionally dock at Kyoto, he assumed it was about some guy in charge of a ship, and being an old Navy guy himself, was all for it.
We can maybe survive shamnesty, but we can't survive "Capn Trade.
I've been listening to "conservatives" piss and moan about McCain for decades, then what do they do? They elect the sob!
Well, not me.
I see Palin as a solid “down payment.” He could have picked Pawlenty if he wanted a global warming believer.
In other words, you have no answer, you just like to bitch and whine.
OK, we're giving you the attention you so desperately need. You're special because you're one of the minority that doesn't approve of this pick. OK? Happy?
No answers, no thoughts, no ability to discuss, just bitch. Pathetic.
No, quite the other way around.
A revived Republican party isn't going to come from nowhere. We simply don't have attractive conservative candidates that can make IMPACT on the American public.
That's because the Republican party is full of RINOS. How did it get that way?
Now we have a chance to drive a wedge between the libs and the younger generations.
By electing yet more RINOs... Riiiggght.
You are so very wrong--EVERYTHING has changed from last week.[...]
The ONLY thing that has changed is that saddleback and Palin are a complete reversal for the RINOS and a capitulation to the Conservative Base. They are broke and out of votes, and know that they cannot win without US. So they slap on a new coat of paint and start praisin' Jesus. Big deal. It doesn't change what THEY ARE one bit.
You just don't want to see it because it isn't changing to your specifications. The world doesn't work that way.
That's crap, and you know it.
If you want to sit it out and help Obama win--which not giving his opponent does--then please tell us where this change IS going to come from?
Well gee, seems to me the first good move would be to STOP ELECTING RINOS!!!!
Palin is no big deal... she's just a Conservative... Lift up ANY Reagan Conservative, and you'd have the same exact reaction.
And NOT voting for him will destroy this nation with a dister called the OPbama Administration.
Lemme guess, you never played team sports, did you?
Some times you gotta take one for the team..Vote for McCain. The survival of the nation is more imkportant than your precious lil’ principles.
I was going to write-in bugs bunny but now I am voting for McCain just so those nasty people don’t gloat the next four years.
not voting for Mccain, I will not vote for his water carrier either
No further response needed, I know your plan--just let Obama win and pray a new Reagan arrives.
The rest of us will help elect the only choice between the two, including a woman who will be a model for how conservatives can succeed. You keep crossing your fingers and bitching--that's your definition of the conservative way, I guess.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.