Sarah Palin's Problem

Townhall.com ^ | February 23, 2009 | Carol Platt Liebau

[EveningStar]

I like Sarah Palin...

Recently, however, my confidence in Governor Palin’s judgment has begun to ebb – most dramatically, this week...

[Crim]

“Beware of ANYONE who claims to be able to determine whether or not one is a conservative based on their stance on a single issue.”

Ok..I give up....who’s the quote from?

Specter?

Snowe?

Collins?

McCain?

[EveningStar]

It’s impossible to like a political figure and also find fault with him/her.

If you do so, you’re a RINO, troll, DUer, (fill in the blank).

Our heroes are not responsible for their actions. They never make mistakes - ever. If they fail, the responsibility for that failure lies totally with the media and RINOs.

[dmz]

the quote is from yours truly, me myself and dmz

I am not a social conservative, and I make no bones about it. On this very forum, on nearly a daily basis, one can read that if you are not a social conservative, you are not a conservative. Yawn.

The reality of being a conservative nowhere contains a reference to Sarah Palin.

[SamAdams76]

They were saying the same things about Ronald Reagan back in 1977, during the early days of the Carter Administration. Carter was going to be president for the next 8 years and hand off to Walter Mondale for another two terms. The GOP was finished and so was Ronald Reagan, that washed up governor from California who couldn't even beat that tired out Gerald Ford from the previous summer's convention.

It may or may not be Palin in 2012 but it's way too early to count her out.

[St. Louis Conservative]

None of the stuff you mentioned concerns me.

However, I am not confident that Sarah Palin possesses the necessary “gravitas” (I know, I hate that word too) and policy wonkiness to appeal to a large enough cross section of voters - specfically the upper-income, college educated folks.

It is for this reason that I think Mark Sanford or Bobby Jindal would be more effective presidential candidates for the GOP - even though I love Sarah Palin and would voter for her in a heartbeat....we need more than the conservative base to win. Do not take that statement as a suggestion that we should water down our principles, but we need an effective spokesman that can both shoot holes in the Democrats’ proposals and argue and persuade voters to agree with we conservatives. I’m not convinced Sarah Palin has that ability.

[itsahoot]

The former is a red herring, the latter-harpooning the big fish.

I agree 100%. The truth is, it is not abut Sarah either. It is Jesus that they hate, and she has a relationship with Him, and it drives them crazy.

[Crim]

“the quote is from yours truly, me myself and dmz”

Duh....but the reply was WAY over your head I guess...

“not a social conservative”

Care to define that?

You’re a log cabin republican perhaps?

*snicker*

[longtermmemmory]

Palin’s problem is she must effectivly do a 100% bypass of all media outlets and establishment effete elites.

she has to go direct to mr and mrs america and introduce herself directly.

Unfortunatly senior america is still a slave to the old media.

[Old Sarge]

The Constitutional definition of “citizen” is one who was born in this country.

Jindal was born in Baton Rouge, LA. And he can prove it.

The One (piss be upon him) cannot and never will.

May MOD’s mercy be upon you.

[dmz]

LOL. It is an absolute hoot to watch you crow all over yourself and how smart you think you are. You are, what, 13 or so years old? The snicker after mentioning homos gave it away.

[itsahoot]

one can read that if you are not a social conservative, you are not a conservative.

The reality is that one cannot remain a conservative, without social conservatism, because the society will devolve into what we are seeing today.

[dmz]

If you say so, which I don’t.

[deannadurbin]

I like John Thune. I think with his good looks, his nice looking wife and daughters, his country conservatism, he would make mincemeat out of Obama in the next election.

Hate to say it but Jindal would never win, he’s not attractive enough, and though I don’t like it, today’s American voter is so superficial they go on looks and not much else. Mr. Thune is good looking!

Fight fire with fire! The Obama Machine would make mincemeat out of Sarah again, just like they did last time. He’d be harder pressed to do that to a man.

[deannadurbin]

You are correct. Without social conservatism all of America will look like that disgusting Oscar ceremony last night.

[AnalogReigns]

Dude, listen to what this fellow-very-conservative writer is saying:

“The cold, hard truth is that Sarah Palin is being – and will be – held to an incredibly high standard by political allies and adversaries alike. If she truly cherishes aspirations to national leadership, she has to realize that her every word, gesture and situation will be subjected to a level of scrutiny that will make what she’s already endured seem like a day at the beach. And then she needs to act accordingly.”

Palin does NOT seem to have the common-sense instincts in dealing with the media, that a serious Reagan-like candidate must. Time and again, she has lacked judgment (that Turkey slaughter thing for example was just ridiculous—a kindergardener could have told her it was stupid!) in her self-chosen media exposure. National candidacy is all about media-management—ESPECIALLY for Conservatives.

Dan Quayle, smart conservative guy that he certainly is in reality, failed at this, and so does Sarah Palin.

[jla]

post 49 - I'm not doubting the premise of your post but I'd add that many on the Right appear to allow the media to shape their opinion of Gov P., rather than doing a little bit of research themselves. (The Left has no monopoly on laziness, I assure you).
TeamSarah.org is good in keeping one informed and up to date of Palin's accomplishments, her beliefs, and her idealism.
Back to your post, I wouldn't be at all surprised if some here are in reality purposely trying to malign Sarah Palin. I won't name names, (you know who they are), but your description - submit posts wholly in line with conservatism except where Palin is concerned - does make me wonder. I cannot fathom any rational reason why a conservative would attack her as some do. At best, some merely wish to denigrate her, thus supposedly elevated their candidate of choice. At worst, they are like ravenous, starving wolves.
As for the Palin daughter speaking out, I find it a positive, and only a positive.
As I've previously stated, Palin appears to invoke transparency rather than just talk about it. This, I believe, will resonate with millions of families, and I see a tremendous net gain of Palin supporters, especially the gals, in the years ahead.

I sincerely and confidently compare her to Jefferson and Reagan. Those two may have been more adept with the written word, where Gov P manifest much the same thru her actions. Either way, all three understood/stand the ideal of America.

[Crim]

“LOL. It is an absolute hoot to watch you crow all over yourself and how smart you think you are. You are, what, 13 or so years old? The snicker after mentioning homos gave it away.”

Nah...I’m way older than 13...I stopped using “LOL” and the word “homo” when I grew up.

[itsahoot]

If you say so, which I don’t.

Then maybe you can offer a better explanation for the devolution of our society?

[svcw]

I always like when the writer says “I like her but.....” Then goes on for paragraphs about what a dolt she is. The issue is the author just like so many others, does not like Gov. Palin.

[Oztrich Boy]

So how do you expect the MSM to "Palin" Jindal? You know they're going to try...

Exorcism