Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Has Sarah Palin saved the GOP?
The Washington Post ^ | September 17, 2010 | Paul Goldman, former chairman of Virginia's Democratic Party

Posted on 09/16/2010 10:22:29 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Delaware Republicans have proved it: Sarah Palin is the best asset the GOP has right now.

There has been a lot of carping about Republicans' prospects for November since Palin-backed candidate Christine O'Donnell defeated longtime Delaware officeholder Mike Castle for the Republican Senate nomination Tuesday. But contrary to conventional wisdom, the 2008 vice presidential nominee has kept the party strong. How? She has kept the Tea Party faithful inside the GOP tent. Had she instead encouraged these disillusioned voters to mount third-party challenges across the 2010 general-election ballot, dozens of Democratic incumbents, not to mention challengers, would be smiling like Woodrow Wilson in 1912.

That year, a simmering feud between two wings of the Republican Party resulted in the "Bull Moose" independent presidential candidacy of former president Teddy Roosevelt. The Rough Rider's support four years earlier landed William Howard Taft the GOP nomination, but the two had a falling-out. Their disunity allowed Wilson, the governor of New Jersey, to claim the White House with the lowest winning percentage of the popular vote since the two-party era began in 1864. Wilson was only the second Democrat elected president since the Civil War; a GOP united by a temporary, even testy, marriage of convenience would have triumphed easily. But egos proved too large. It did not matter that Wilson was, in TR's term, the "coiner of weasel words."

Establishment Republicans, including former Bush aide Karl Rove, have said this year that the strength of the Tea Party movement has sometimes forced the nomination of contenders with weak prospects for winning a general election. This is surely right; O'Donnell's upset on Tuesday is merely the latest example, but there were similar complaints about the Nevada Senate contest.(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2010; gop; karlrove; obama; odonnell; palin; sarahpalin; teaparty; teapartyexpress
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 161-179 next last
To: techno
I'm not downplaying Sarah.

But I quite a fiew friends in Delaware.
Every one I called and talked to voted for Christine O’Donnell
because Castle had made them sick.

One said he made Arlen Specter look like a super conservative.
Another said Cap and trade was the final straw.
Not one said Sarah changed their mind.

All said that they voted for Glen Urquhart because
of Michele Rollins stance on abortion.
That was just as big an upset as Christine's.

Not a one said Sarah influenced them.
Some people can think for themselves.

81 posted on 09/16/2010 11:49:28 PM PDT by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I am one who appreciates the quality and variety of articles you post here! Saves me a lot of web trawling, that’s for sure.... :^)


82 posted on 09/16/2010 11:50:51 PM PDT by Enchante ("The great enemy of clear language is insincerity." -- George Orwell --)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Vendome
I meant they only have one congressman.
83 posted on 09/16/2010 11:51:51 PM PDT by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet; Freddd

You post just fine and I can’t stand intellectual hack wannabe’s.

Freddd is a nOOb tard and has the I.Q. of burnt toast.


84 posted on 09/16/2010 11:51:54 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: MEG33

She’s still delivering oxygen. With all the Tea victiories of late, I just realized I haven’t listened to or seen Zero’s socialist ramblings for some time. No wonder I feel better!
By the way you have a beautiful home page!


85 posted on 09/16/2010 11:52:31 PM PDT by Rennes Templar (They shall not pass!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: DaveTesla

Dave, what I am talking is the MARGIN of difference. Notice the huge turnout on Tuesday. Imho there was a small percentage of these folks-5%-7% who might not have felt motivated to have gone to the polls on Tuesday or might have voted for Castle instead if not for the Palin endorsement. In addition the Palin endorsement may have swayed the undecided vote who still had doubts about O’Donnell because of all the negative publicity sent her way. When Palin endorsed O’Donnell, she basically vouched for her character which as you know was a huge issue during the campaign.


86 posted on 09/16/2010 11:55:05 PM PDT by techno
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: DaveTesla

OH! Well, that’s true. LOL

Sorry, I use to live in Centerville and run right past Joe Biden’s house on Mount Chanin.
He was my 3/4 mark and I always had a weird thought when I ran past his place until I saw him at Buckley’s Tavern.

Guy is a laugh machine and loves having a good time yucking it up.


87 posted on 09/16/2010 11:55:19 PM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: DB
The MSM and the Washington elite heads would explode if Palin were to become President.

True, but making people angry doesn't pass for productive in my book. Reagan got people voting for him beyond his personality. He knew how to deliver tangible results because of years of study and intellectual preparation. I don't have that confidence in Sarah Palin as she has shown little interest beyond feel-good platitudes that do not comport with the results of her administration.

I have zero confidence in her preparation for the conduct of foreign policy.

She left Wasilla far deeper in dept due to a subsidized and socialized exercise and entertainment monopoly. She vastly increased taxes on oil production such that drilling plans were dropped and left the state. Checked the unemployment numbers in Alaska lately?

The truth is Reagan got much the same reaction from both.

No argument there.

Palin is younger and more energetic while retaining the ability to connect to ordinary people.

Barack Obama had those attributes in 2008, but it didn't mean he would be a good President.

88 posted on 09/16/2010 11:55:50 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The RINOcrat Party is still in charge. There has never been a conservative American government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Art in Idaho

Nah, Feb 6th would have been Reagan’s 100th birthday.


89 posted on 09/16/2010 11:56:28 PM PDT by oprahstheantichrist (The MSM is a demonic stronghold, PLEASE pray accordingly - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

And the Left can’t decide whether she is an irrelevant kooky snowbilly quitter or is like Sauron busy on Mordor building an army.


90 posted on 09/16/2010 11:59:47 PM PDT by Lou Budvis (Refudiate 0bama '12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lou Budvis

And the Left can’t decide whether she is an irrelevant kooky snowbilly quitter or is like Sauron busy on Mordor building an army.


excellent post! :D


91 posted on 09/17/2010 12:01:03 AM PDT by chasio649 (amused)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: Vendome
Buckley’s Tavern?

You mean the liberal wanna be hang out that serves tofu burgers
and bean sprouts and wild flower salads?

BARF.....

92 posted on 09/17/2010 12:03:13 AM PDT by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: ansel12
I remember when it was Palin alone out there taking it to Obama, <<

How soon they forget,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

93 posted on 09/17/2010 12:03:34 AM PDT by M-cubed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DaveTesla

They serve real food as far as I know.

Tofu? Gag. Worse than raw oysters.


94 posted on 09/17/2010 12:06:11 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: NavyCanDo

Before McCain made his pick of Palin, many conservatives, myself included, said the only way I’d vote for McCain was if he picked Sarah Palin. That was Free Republic wanted, if there was any clear choice.

Sarah Palin wasn’t unknown around here. When he picked her, we knew her already and were psyched. I was waiting in line when the polls opened and proudly voted for Sarah Palin.
A lot of people here will say the same thing.


95 posted on 09/17/2010 12:09:17 AM PDT by truthfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Vendome
Last year I was in town on business one of the attorneys
took me there. Wasn't a dam thing on the menu I would eat. I couldn't get over the fact they didn't have a real salad. Just a dandylion and wild flower one.
96 posted on 09/17/2010 12:11:15 AM PDT by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: techno

I will give Sarah credit.

But Mile Castle deserves 95% of it.


97 posted on 09/17/2010 12:13:18 AM PDT by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

No... although she tried...

If you look at the reaction of the NRSC regarding O’Donnell, you can see that they still don’t get it. They might in the future though as the pin pricks keep coming...


98 posted on 09/17/2010 12:14:59 AM PDT by Deagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DaveTesla

LOL

I went there for the libations.

BTW, little known secret:

Joe has an open account at Jansens and pays it when he gets around to it.


99 posted on 09/17/2010 12:21:39 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: Vendome

I know Mr. Jansen, his wife and daughter and word has it
Joe no pay.

I Aways buy flowers for the wife from Jackie when I am in town.


100 posted on 09/17/2010 12:28:07 AM PDT by DaveTesla (You can fool some of the people some of the time......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 161-179 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson