Posted on 06/13/2011 8:11:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
After two of the best months a potential presidential candidate could possibly have, the Daily Caller lobbed a grenade at the Palin Camp Sunday night in the form of a John Ziegler piece titled: The Sarah Palin I Know. The news here is that Ziegler a columnist, documentary filmmaker, and radio talk show host whos probably most famous for being one of Governor Palins chief defenders, has come out very publicly to proclaim that shes not only incapable of defeating Barack Obama in 2012, but also that any potential candidacy on her part could hurt those like Tim Pawlenty what are capable of defeating Obama.
In his closing sentence, Ziegler sums up his own piece perfectly:
If Sarah Palin still is the person I thought I knew, then she will do what is best for her cause and country by sitting this one out.
Rather than risk misquoting or taking Ziegler out of context, in the best good-faith effort I can summon, Im going to quote directly the substance of the arguments Ziegler makes to back up his bombshell claims. I do, however, encourage you to read the full piece.
1. The MSM Destroyed Palins Chance to Beat Obama in 2012
Ziegler: Before I left, I felt I had to give the governor at least one piece of advice. After all, I know how politicians work. They surround themselves with yes-people. No one dares speak up. I figured Id never get another opportunity like this again, so, with the very best of intentions, I told her: You have to know, you cant beat Obama in 2012. The media wont let you. They wont let him lose and the narrative about you is too negative to correct in three-and-a-half years.
The main reason I believe Ziegler is falling into the medias trap, is based mainly on recent polls from crucial swing states that show Governor Palin well within striking distance of Barack Obama. Not only is Obama unable to hit 50% (bad news for any incumbent), but Palin isnt even an announced candidate and yet shes polling within the margin of error. Furthermore, a poll ironically released the same night as Zieglers piece, shows that Ziegler might be wrong about the following
Zieger: Palin supporters look at all of this and laughably claim that, if given the opportunity, she can change peoples minds. This is simply impossible. I have no doubt that, if presented with the chance, she would exceed expectations in virtually every area of a campaign (except organization), but that would hardly matter at all.
In fact, minds have changed over the last three months. According to CNN, Palins overall favorable rating with all adults has jumped 11% since April. Her unfavorables are still at 52%, but her numbers are most certainly headed in the right direction and its not as though the media suddenly decided to treat the Governor fairly.
My guess as to why the Governor is looking more electable these days is due to her and her teams near-flawless handling of the One Nation Bus Tour (the MSMs email fiasco is likely to only boost her numbers further). The Palin Camps messaging of that event was not only managed in a way that would shame most presidential campaigns, it was also done through a very successful and unconventional circumvention of the media. Which brings me to the most important point Ill make in this piece
What Ziegler and those who agree with him need to understand is that the MSM doesnt intend to let anyone beat Barack Obama. They intend to pull a Palin to decimate and salt the earth behind whoever threatens the re-election of Their Precious One. Barack Obama is a failed president. Period. If 2012 is what it should be a referendum on the incumbent he loses in a landslide. Therefore, the White House and their MSM allies intend to do everything they can to ensure 2012 is all about toxifying the GOP nominee regardless of who it is into someone who cannot be elected. Anyone who thinks the MSM will take it easier on a nominee not named Palin hasnt been paying attention.
The bottom line is that whoever our candidate is, beating Obama is not the existential problem our candidate must beat the media, and other than Newt Gingrich (a victim of unforced errors), theres not a single announced or potential Republican candidate whos dealt with a tenth of what Obamas MSM Palace Guards intend to hurl their way except Sarah Palin. And not only has the Governor survived this unprecedented onslaught, but the past few months have shown that she understands this threat and is actively and effectively working on ways to overcome it.
Using Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of New Media, Palin has (if you look at those polls) effectively gone over the heads of the media and directly to the people. This is not one way to win in 2012, this is the only way. Furthermore, shes the only potential candidate that the media has fisked in every way imaginable and already unloaded on right down to her every email. Sure, the MSM will find more nonsense to hurl at her but any substantive scandal or disqualifying issue wouldve likely been found already. We cannot say this for any of the other GOP candidates who are sure to be skinned alive once the MSM is handed the name of Obamas direct opponent. October surprise, anyone?
Morevover, if you want to understand how ignorant the GOP Establishment is of the media threat, read this. Yes, you read that right: some of our very own geniuses intend to walk directly into the duality of MSM corruption known as Politico/NBC. No one interested in defeating Barack Obama would go within a country mile of a debate hosted by those two outlets unless they dont fully appreciate the threat.
Does anyone doubt Palin understands the threat? Because anyone who doesnt . thats whos almost certain to lose to Barack Obama.
2. Palins Team is a Mess
Ziegler: Theres also the fact that Sarahs entire operation is increasingly managed like a CIA field office; that shes adopted a bunker mentality; that shes trusting the wrong people, some of whom I know are simply exploiting her. As a result, even those most loyal to her get tossed under the bus, with little or no effort to avoid the collateral damage. Which raises the question: if people like me who would once have taken a bullet for Sarah (and at least figuratively I did many times) cant get behind her any more, what the hell happened?
Can anyone name a potential presidential candidate who has not had something to this effect written about their campaign at one time or another especially 18 months out from election day. You cant dwell on the mistakes of the past (and there have been some), you have to focus on the learning curve and its just a fact that the curve of the Palin camp is definitely headed in the right direction. Considering the hot spotlight they live under where even the tweets of an aide can make headlines, Im even more impressed by their trajectory.
In my opinion, over the past few months, the Palin teams handling of everything from her slam-bang speech in Madison to a recent Fox News Sunday appearance to the bus tour to the Ed Rollins smear to the Politico smear to the Paul Revere nonsense to last weeks email expedition has been nearly flawless. I dont know whether or not Governor Palin intends to run, but you can clearly sense that her team is coming together and firing on all cylinders. Therefore her favorability bump in the CNN poll is no accident.
Yes, there will be mistakes in the future and those with a dog in the fight will pounce and amplify those mistakes in ways no other potential GOP candidate will have to face. But this could actually be a good thing in the long run. What you want in a nominee is someone already tested and tried someone already toughened up by a grueling primary process. Should Palin run and win the nomination, her trial by fire will be unprecedented. Unfortunately, much of that fire will have come from her own side, but that doesnt make the experience any less valuable.
3. Palins Resignation as Governor is Fatal
Zieger: Lets face it, Palin made a great decision for her and her family, but one that disqualifies her from running for president, at least in 2012. Obama has the ultimate trump card against her: when things got tough you quit to become a rich celebrity while I was killing Osama bin Laden. Game, set, match.
Im no pollyanna when it comes to this, and while the Governors decision to step down showed me a person of extraordinary character willing to cut her own political throat for the good of her State and family, I understand that not everyone will see it this way. Theres no doubt the resignation will dog Palin for the rest of her political life and that Obama and the MSM will exploit it mercilessly. Simply put: Its a real problem. But to her credit and in a way that belies Zieglers bunker mentality charge, Palin apparently understands this. According to some news reports, knowing this was a problem is the primary reason she reached out to filmmaker Steve Bannon.
The first step in dealing with a problem is knowing you have a problem. Unfortunately, it doesnt appear as though we can say the same for our current frontrunner, Mitt Romney, who still stands behind no less than two trump cards Obama currently holds: RomneyCare and Global Warming.
My point here isnt to beat up Mitt Romney, who I think would make a terrific president. My point is that Zieglers use of the phrase disqualifies her from running is hyperbole and that shes not alone in the potential disqualifier department. Also, unlike Romney, Palin actively sought out a tactically brilliant way to go around the media and fix this problem: a series of short films she intended to commission that turned into a feature film (she had no editorial control over) that many are now calling a game changer.
We should all be as dumb as Sarah Palin.
4. Palins Celebrity Took Away Her Mojo as a Fighter
Zieger: The worst part about the resignation from a political narrative perspective is that it also stripped away Palins greatest strength. She is clearly a fighter but it is impossible to make She will fight for you the cornerstone of a campaign when she just quit her only big job, seemingly for personal gain.
With all due respect, this is absurd on its face. People may look at Sarah Palin and think a lot of things but other than the political clout every politician seeks no one can watch what this womans been through for the past three years and honestly believe for a second that shes not fighting for something bigger than herself. Palin changed the political landscape of 2010 like no one else and her willingness to enter the belly of the beast and run towards the fight in places like Madison is not lost on anyone paying attention.
The celebrity narrative is a Leftist lie. One travelogue/reality show does not trump her tireless and effective work in 2010 or her work on behalf of the Tea Party.
That dog simply wont hunt.
5. Palins Mere Presence In the Race Will Ensure Obamas Reelection
Zieger: It baffles me how relatively few Republican voters seem to understand that beating Obama with any conservative is the ONLY thing that matters and that quite literally, through no real fault of her own, there are almost no conservatives not currently in prison who have LESS of a chance of beating Obama than Sarah Palin currently does. Worst of all, her just getting in the race greatly reduces the chances of an electable conservative, like Tim Pawlenty, getting enough traction to win the nomination.
The last poll I saw had Pawlenty at 6%. Thats not Sarah Palins fault. But what Ziegler appears to be saying here is that should Palin decide to pursue the nomination, her presence in the race will accomplish what she wants it to accomplish: Other people will lose, she will win. But then, Ziegler argues things like this will happen:
And finally there is the already incredibly long list of negative on-the-record statements from Republicans about her and the inevitable avalanche of Obama endorsements which would come from Republican leaders looking to ingratiate themselves with the media.
Should Palin be the nominee, lets grant that even in the face of Obamas utterly failed presidency, Zieglers right about this that David Frum, Peggy Noonan, Joe Scarborough, Kathleen Parker and all the other double agents who go well beyond the in-bounds arena of constructive criticism and straight to the darkside of undermining, will continue to do so. Well, I seem to remember that in 2008 we nominated the man the MSM wanted us to nominate and that didnt stop Colin Powell from putting a stake in our heart just a few days before the election. You dont win national elections appealing to the elite or to the media. You win by appealing to the people and this is where Palin is especially potent.
Besides a trial by media fire and a growing savvy when it comes to getting her message out, besides a charisma and personal touch no other candidate comes close to, something else Palin uniquely offers is a mammoth base of fervent supporters ready to fight to the death for her a base as passionate and motivated as President Obamas in 2008. No other GOP contender has anything close to this army of supporters and volunteers who are not only standing by but pretty well organized through various Such-and-such State for Palin communities. Furthermore, Palins ability to turn out the vote, fundraise through her base, and her position on social media was already formidable in 2010. Its only going to get stronger over the next 18 months as the economy gets worse. And in the end, 2012 will not be about anything other than the economy, stupid.
Believe me, a year from now, if the economy looks anything like it does today (and I think it will), no ones going to give a damn about reality shows or resignations.
6. Conservative Media Wont Speak Truth to Palin
Zieger: Meanwhile, the conservative media is largely afraid to tell the truth about the dangers of a Palin campaign because they also fear a dull primary season, as well as offending the millions of Palin fans who make up the most loyal core of their audience. After all, beating Obama may not even be in their business interest.
This is factually wrong. The high-profile presence of Zieglers article at the Daily Caller proves him wrong as does his above statement about on-the-record statements from Republicans. Joe Scarborough, Kathleen Parker, Peggy Noonan, the Daily Caller, Hot Air, Newsmax and National Review are all part of the conservative media and highly critical of the Governor.
Katie Courics selective editing to the contrary, I have no doubt Governor Palin and her supporters have been exposed to the many good and bad faith arguments against her jumping into the race.
And so, in further rebuttal to the six main arguments against a Palin candidacy I gleaned from Zieglers article, I offer my Top Ten for why Governor Palin should run:
1. Shes dead right on the most important issues of the day.
2. She was an effective and dynamic Governor and that story has only begun to get told.
3. Shes already been vetted by the media.
4. Shes tough as a hickory nut.
5. She understands better than anyone that our primary opponent in 2012 is the MSM and is using social media in unprecedented ways to neutralize them.
6. She has a huge base of motivated supporters ready to chew ground glass for her.
7. Her team is coming together and making all the right moves.
8. The economy is tanking therefore Obama is vulnerable.
9. Obama is a failed president.
10. See #1.
Finally, let me just say that I know John Ziegler and that many of his defenses of Governor Palin have appeared on the BIG sites. My goal here, however, is only to look at the substance of his claims, which I obviously disagree with. Do I have other issues with Zieglers piece? In a word, yes. But addressing those would only distract from the substance of a healthy debate our side should be vigorously engaged in.
Excellent analysis by Breitbart. Only comment is that it should be in the news forum on the Front Page!
sarahs got my vote- on the debate tonight was kinda the same o same o.. i wouldnt vote for none of them..
“but also that any potential candidacy on her part could hurt those like Tim Pawlenty what are capable of defeating Obama. “
oh come on. If they lose to Obama, they only have themselves to blame. Some advice John: tell your favorite candidate to ‘man up’ and we wouldn’t be in this situation.
“theres not a single announced or potential Republican candidate whos dealt with a tenth of what Obamas MSM Palace Guards intend to hurl their way except Sarah Palin. And not only has the Governor survived this unprecedented onslaught, but the past few months have shown that she understands this threat and is actively and effectively working on ways to overcome it. “
Money shot!
“What say you? “ =====
What’s to know who is right or wrong on Sarah Palin if she won’t get in and end the question, all the guessing, the hoping, the critics dread, the arguements? Only she can end the back and forth. Shout out when she gets in. (Ya just can’t vote for someone who is not running.)
I would love to see what Perry has to say but I’m not waiting a year or two for him either, to “decide”.
To the contrary Mr. Ziegler, beating Obama is the easiest thing she will have done in the last ten years.
“And so, in further rebuttal to the six main arguments against a Palin candidacy I gleaned from Zieglers article, I offer my Top Ten for why Governor Palin should run: 1. Shes dead right on the most important issues of the day. 2. She was an effective and dynamic Governor and that story has only begun to get told. 3. Shes already been vetted by the media. 4. Shes tough as a hickory nut. 5. She understands better than anyone that our primary opponent in 2012 is the MSM and is using social media in unprecedented ways to neutralize them. 6. She has a huge base of motivated supporters ready to chew ground glass for her. 7. Her team is coming together and making all the right moves. 8. The economy is tanking therefore Obama is vulnerable. 9. Obama is a failed president. 10. See #1.”
Right on! Excellent points. Ziegler is a jerk. I mean really. I watched a YouTube video where he was on some dating show. What a self absorbed idiot. I felt sorry for the poor lady.
Check out the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQqLPJvk3gM
In hindsight, you’re right. I usually put campaign articles in GOP, but this is an important one. Could you or someone else tell the mods?
Excellent article. I don’t know what got into John Ziegler, but he’s obviously gone over to the dark side. I can see a conservative of good character holding maybe one of Zeigler’s views about the Governor, but not all of them. He’s ceased to be a failed ally, and has fully sunk into full-fledged enemy status.
Ziegler’s crossed a Rubicon that he will live to regret for the rest of his natural right. Sarah Palin will win the Republican nomination, then go on to handily whup the living daylights out of The Precious One. Zieg will never live down this betrayal.
...not exactly a bastion of arch conservative patriots. Everyone I know, and all but two of the people with whom I associate on a day-to-day basis, are proudly and defiantly voting for Sarah Palin. Four of these arch "Palinistas" voted for Barrio Bummer in '08.
That's how I know she can win. Her support is as wide as the plains, deeper than the Marianas Trench, and growing!
And she hasn't even announced yet.
Factor in that the soon-to-be-released "The Undefeated" will doubtless be the blockbuster hit of this summer, and it creates the only point on which I disagree with Sarah.
It is not "Game ON!"
It's "Game over."
;^\/
Tell the Palinoia Platoon. They say she can’t win!
That is, without a doubt one of the best cases I’ve read to date for Palin to run. I especially like his point about the fact that the media will destroy ANYONE who ends up being the direct opponent to their precious “One.” That point can’t be emphasized enough.
Look what happened in 2008. The media loved and pushed McCain in the primaries. Then as soon as he secured the nomination, they viciously turned on him. Hopefully McLame learned his lesson not to sell out your cause for some short-term approval, but others in the GOP don’t seem to get this.
With Palin, we have the benefit of them already having thrown the kitchen sink at her and she’s still standing. She may still have high unfavorables, but I recall similar numbers as recently as 2007 about Hillary Clinton. There was once a poll that said 52% of Americans would not even consider voting for her. Yet, does anyone doubt that Hillary would have had at least a 50/50 chance, probably much better, than beating McCain?
I understand that it’s different with Palin cause the media will continue to try to tear her down. I suspect though, that at some point that has to start to backfire, if it hasn’t already. I think with Palin, anything short of a major scandal at this point will be seen by reasonable people as just “piling on.”
Good analysis sir.
A Republican nominee will be running against a Democrat candidate and the Media.
This is the corrupt system we're facing, and when the Media feels it's their job to elect a certain candidate, it is corrupt. A Republican is going to face a firestorm of accusations, demonization and trickery.
With that in mind, regardless of who runs or doesn't, this has to be a main consideration in choosing our nominee.
“My point here isnt to beat up Mitt Romney, who I think would make a terrific president...”
Yechhh.
Your post just made my night - thank you.
This was a great peice by Nolte. And it’s sad to think what happened to Zeigler. With “friends” like him, who needs enemies?
And the 24,000 emails will only help her, because it demonstrates with shocking clarity that the American Press is a pack of bigoted, hateful wolves, particularly when it comes to anything related to Srah Palin.
The emails area+5, at least.
“3. Shes already been vetted by the media.”
Don’t think this one isn’t important. She’s even had the anal exam, the email exam, and every other exam.
No shoes to drop just before election. Can you say that about everyone else?
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.