I'm one of those people who thinks that, if she's not elected vice president, Sarah Palin will be the GOP's rock star the next few years.
Spurred on by Palin herself, the reassessment of the Palin candidacy has already begun. We've already heard that it wasn't her fault, that she was mismanaged and ineptly handled, that Palin wasn't allowed to be Palin, that she wasn't properly prepped by the McCain people, that her rollout was badly handled, etc.
No other GOP candidate this year so excited the party faithful. Her crowds were bigger than the ones that came to see John McCain. And when you think back to the Republican primaries, it's hard to see how any of the other candidates could have duplicated that excitement.
Palin is likely to be the one that Republican candidates most want to have show up for a fundraiser in 2009 and 2010. This will be especially true of the socially conservative wing of the party that's been absolutely enthralled with her candidacy.
Palin will have no problem raising money the next few years and if she doesn't have one now, her political action committee will likely be the biggest donor to GOP federal, state, and local candidates across the country.
And over the next few years she'll get the seasoning she needs to be seen as more mainstream. She'll learn more about the issues, get more media training, and meet more people in the lower 48 states.
Again, assuming she isn't elected this Tuesday, anyone thinking that Palin will leave quietly after the 2008 election and go back to Alaska where she'll never be heard from again is simply wrong. After he failed to defeat Gerald Ford for the Republican nomination in 1976, Governor Ronald Reagan broadened his appeal beyond California, raised money like crazy, got better on the issues -- especially the economy-- and campaigned for GOP candidates around the country.
Expect Governor Palin to do the same.
Evangelicals love Palin
If the Republican party wants to continue with the same branding then Palin is their woman.
But I believe they need to wrest control away from the Christian right element and move to the middle, so they need a different kind of leadership.
With the changing demographics of our nation they need to reach out to Hispanic, African American, Asian, and other minority and religious groups (who will, in a few years, become the majority). The nice white folksy uber-Christian lady from Alaska (how many blacks live in Wasilla?) might shore up the base, but she doesn't move them to the middle.
The Republican party needs to become more inclusive. This election cycle, unfortunately, they defined the "real America" to be more exclusive. You don't grow membership or votes by dissing large groups of Americans. So . . . I'm not convinced that Palin is the face of the new Republican party . . . if she is, for sure I won't be going back to that party . . . I'd like to see them embrace diversity to build unity . . . and that isn't what they've been about . . . often the only black person to be seen at their rallies is McCain's adopted daughter. They are backward looking, because their party looks like America of the 1950's . . . and it seems to be catering to people who wish we were still living in that era.
one more
It may be divisive.
DECLARATIONS OCTOBER 17, 2008 Palin's Failin' What is it she stands for? After seven weeks, we don't know.
by Peggy Noonan
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122419210832542317.html
excerpt:
In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It's no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.
I agree with Minn Mom
Sarah Palin generates "buzz" but that's about it. Once she opens her mouth she disappoints all but the wignuttiest wingnut portion of the party.
Seriously, at some point don't you have to bring something to the table other than cliches, winks, and licking your lips? Sarah Palin is not unprepared for office. She's unfit for it. She doesn't know more about the U.S. political system than the typical reader of this blog, and that's on purpose.
Having said that, the wingnut portion of the GOP pretty still runs that party (it's the only grassroots the party has), and any group that can continue to worship Oliver North can support anyone for president I suppose.
Et tu, Palin? Palin 2012
This hilarious, short video really says it all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrUN8oldj9o
Palin and McCain debating in the 5th and final debate of the season. LMAO!!!!.
I imagine she'll appoint herself in Stevens place as Ms Palin goes to Washington if she doesn't get to be Veep.
GOP/Split
There is a split in the GOP between the Chamber of Commerce "business Republicans" and the "religious right" Republicans. I have seen this locally as well. We had a wingnut, incompetent "religious right" Republican County Commissioner. The Business Republicans took her out by running a business Republican in the "Libertarian" slot against her in the general election. After the election she switched back to Democrat.
I don't think the Business Republicans will ever be happy with Palin. They would be more likely to vote for Huckelbee or even Mitch Daniels.
The Republican rump
Krugman has a great piece about his
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/opinion/03krugman.html?_r=1&ei=5070&em...
I'm honored
'Sarah Palin is not unprepared for office. She's unfit for it. She doesn't know more about the U.S. political system than the typical reader of this blog...'
But, how many of us have ever been elected governor of a state?
Palin's Prospects
Sarah might spend some time thinking about 1920, and another inexperienced and unprepared (to be President) VP candidate. It took him another 12 years for various reasons, including health. Much luck is needed, but much calculation, too. She's shrewd and can calculate. But is she lucky?
McCain losing might be the start of luck for her.
Palin's Record
Actually, my friend pointed out that Palin is a strong fiscal conservative and has been since her first years in politics. The media has not presented her record in a comprehensive or fair manner. She did her best to cut spending and stand up to corruption and giveaways to special interests, and has been stronger as she's gained political experience.
Her views on gay marriage are EXACTLY the same as Joe Biden's and Obama's, check the VP debate. Republicans lost because they abandoned their principles and had nothing to run on. They couldn't run on fiscal conservatism and smaller government given their recent record. It's up to a new batch to present that philosophy to the American people, the current crowd just cannot be trusted or believed. Palin's social views are her own, but she will not run on those views if she expects to do well on a national level. All indications are that Palin is a fiscal conservative who is determined to fight and eliminate wasteful government spending. That's what will make her a star, that's what won election after election for the Republicans until they so violated their promises that they could no longer be trusted and were kicked out of government.
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