Posted on 12/11/2009 2:44:13 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Democrats in general and liberals in particular make a terrible mistake in underestimating Sarah Palin. In a sense, I have a proprietary interest in her, because of my August 3, 2008 memo to Obama strategists warning that the Republicans might well choose a woman for Vice-President if we chose a man (my first choice for Veep on the Obama ticket, my admiration and respect for Joe Biden not withstanding, was Governor Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius of Kansas, originally suggested by one of the few brilliant bankers I know, Matthew Hickey, an Ohio native. Kathleen Sebelius’s father, Jack Gilligan was Governor of Ohio in the 1970s).
The Republicans had the luxury of choosing their vice-presidential candidate after we chose ours and I knew of Governor Palin only because I had travelled to Alaska the summer of of 2007. She was the most conservative of the Republican women who might be possibilities and the fact that she was a Governor (not a Senator) added another useful attribute, which is why she was listed first among the possibilities in my memo.
There is no doubt that the surprise choice of Governor Palin gave McCain a huge short term advantage. Ultimately, she may have done more than any other person in ‘herding’ Democratic women back to the Democratic fold, though Hillary did more than should have reasonably been expected from her, and her conduct as Secretary of State has been an unbelievable model, both for her hard work, and her obviously careful attempt not to steal any of the limelight from President Obama; but despite that Sarah Palin, she did prove herself a huge crowd getter for the Republicans all the way to the end.
Sarah Palin is something that none of the other political contenders in the GOP are: a certified celebrity. Only Messrs. Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck, the three most successful college dropouts in America after Bill Gates can vie with her for the public’s attention. Pawlenty and Romney, even Giuliani, Gingrich and Huckabee have nowhere near her star power.
The fact that she is no longer Governor of Alaska is not hurting her one whit. In fact, I made the argument before she resigned that that is what she needed to do. First of all, as Governor she was a sitting target. More importantly she had dozens, even hundreds of invitations to speak around the country, both party speeches on the rubber chicken and tea bag circuit, as well as the very remunerative speeches to national conventions and association meetings. Obviously she couldn’t command the $150,000 that former President Bill Clinton gets, but I’m sure she is getting at least $25,000 or $50,000 to speak to the warehouse owners association or groups like that. All she needs is half a dozen of engagements like that and she’s made more than her salary as Governor, without any of the aggravation either associated with contentious issues, or the criticism for leaving the state. Furthermore as Governor she couldn’t accept fees for speaking engagements, and whether she was travelling for political or monetary reasons (or more likely both), she would have to take at least a full day off for any single engagement. If she went East for example, she would lose three hours in time changes going, and if returning on a red eye, would arrive the next morning semi exhausted.
She has her book, ‘Going Rogue’ as an excuse for travelling. She is welcome on every late night and early morning talk show. She is a an ardent conservative, but has demonstrated an infectious civility that transcends partisanship as revealed on the Oprah show. She is the number one choice for Republican and conservative organizations across the country.
She’ll do great at state and county fairs. I envision her doing a ‘dressing a deer’ demonstration, or brining turkeys with John Kass. (Dressing deer will demonstrate that her repertoire includes more than caribou, elk and moose. Like our President she is a person people are happy to meet even if they violently disagree with her. So don’t be surprised when she starts traveling. Whether she’s folding parachutes or bandages with the troops, or having lunch with presidents, prime ministers and leaders of the opposition she will make sure she is really educated on international issues while getting reams of publicity in the process. And this will giver another book: “I have seen Russia (and seventeen other countries too!)”
What really convinced me this gal had a chance wasn’t her clever rollout on Oprah’s show to start her book tour, but the fact that Tom Roeser, Chairman of this online publication and a very intelligent conservative with whom I disagree 87.3% of the time wrote last week that he could support her candidacy. I think Roeser’s judgment of Obama is incorrect, but he would never support anyone for President who he didn’t believe had the basic ‘necessities.’ I would never vote for Sarah Palin, but I wouldn’t bet against her either, though it galls me to admit it.
While I believe that President Obama will win re-election in 2012 he can only count on 241 of the 270 electoral votes he needs to win. It will be tough for Sarah ‘Annie Oakley’ Palin to get to the magic 270, but she could. Its not impossible. And 2012 is the only time she’ll have a chance. Its not smart to write her off. Remember we elected George W. Bush – twice.
I’ll help raise money, contribute my time, energy, whatever necessary to help put her in the White House. I’ll be her campaign manager if she will have me.
I am not counting her out. I saw her on barbra Walters and she pretty much said the same thing Hillary Clinton said prior to announcing she was running. She will run. I can’t wait to see the Republican Primary Debates!!!!!
If Sarah runs, I will volunteer and pull many Obama signs from front yards, plus watch ACORN maggots as they have “Mr. X” vote 12x.
Sarah is my choice.
She has my vote.
I’ll be looking to confront Black Panther types outside of polling booths. I give credit to the young man in Philly but he was just a little to timid and nice about it. This middle aged nasty cowboy wont be so diplomatic.
What next?
Grudging admiration from Frank Rich in the NYT...???
Palin is a woman unafraid of the media whores. She is shaking up the conservative movement but as for me I would love to see Sen Tom Coburn run for president.
The big lib power brokers are starting to fully realize the enormity of their error in driving her from the governor's office in Alaska.
What??? Palin, like Obama ‘is a people person?’ What people is Obama the person of??? Ivy League elitists and Commie sympathizers? Race baiters?
Sorry. Obama won because the twisted caucuses and outright stealing of ballots by ACORN (and the New Black Panther party). Hillary was robbed in many, many locales (PUMAs anyone???)
Palin cause worry because she IS everything they know The Won isn’t.
What drivel...
She has my vote, my cash and my labor.
Amen...all of the high fives; and behind the scenes manipulations (ie, supporting evil minded, couched planted bloggers) has (channelling my inner Jeremiah Wright) caused the ‘chicknnnnnnnns to come hommmmmmme to roost.’
Palin is free to roam about the country.
Two years early.
Karma. Just Karma.
“While I believe that President Obama will win re-election in 2012 he can only count on 241 of the 270 electoral votes he needs to win.”
Obama will not win Virginia, North Carolina, or Indiana again.
Palin will make Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Pennsylvania very close.
The bloom is off the rose, and independents won’t be flocking to support Obama again. His re-election will only be secured by three way race, or a combination of vote fraud, massive base turnout, and a very weak republican candidate. In a nut shell, the same thing that happened in 08
or better yet, put sarah signs on known obama’s voter front yard, and watch blue on blue action :) Because we all know Liberals will start targeting Palin’s houses with eggs or tomatoes
For a conservative person, and thinking I’d never vote for a woman for more years than I’d care to count, is there another choice?
So, Palin has my vote.
At this point I do not believe Obama starts 2012 with 242 electoral votes in the bag. I am not even positive that he will be the nominee.
I wonder if he will even seek the nomination.
The National Enquirer (among other tabloids) has been ‘floating’ the Obama Sick; Obama Lung Cancer; etc., stories to go along with his ‘weight loss.’
Who knows...they do ‘plant’ foundations for these stories to grow from (remember the Edwards has a mistress tales?)
I’d vote for Sarah again. And I won’t have to hold my nose as I do it if McSame is not on the ticket this time.
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