1 “The rule of experts” = doing whatever the Left tells you to do, because they consider themselves the only ones capable of being an "expert."  So of course, it is wrong to be dismissve of them.

2 Hey!  Over here!  My vagina can talk!

3 Ambinder is really a stand in here for a lot of people like David Frum Which is why fisking Ambinder is a waste of time. However, Drew's points are all well-taken and a fine effort. Nevertheless, Ambinder has been a waning joke for some time now. And for Ambinder to declare, flatly as if fact, that issues like immigration, large government and climate hysteria are "settled?" Silly, pathetic man.

4

The educated elite class has run this country into a ditch. Our power is on the decline and you dont seen that, then you are blind. We are sending hundreds of billions overseas to import oil alone, while we finance trillions of new debt through foreign buyers and the federal reserve.

Yet, Palin is the stupid one. Remind me how many trillions she has wasted? Remind me how many millions of jobs she has lost?

Us commoners have been raped by the elite for decades and we are sick of it. Sarah is as close to a commoner as it gets for a potential president, so she must be destroyed because the elite can't have a commoner giving them orders, not even for 4 years.

5 “settled” ?  ...  like solids in a cesspit

6 Those who dismiss Palin and her supporters as only running on a negative agenda never seem to see that trait in groups like ACORN, SEIU or the politicians who support them. You never hear about people who see the fruits of other’s labor and only ‘want to spread it around’ being charged with resentment. They are the chosen ones who have accepted that redistribution of wealth is ‘settled’ and the natural state of things, therefore they are doing the right thing and for the right reasons.

This is good.  Really good.  I'm going to pose this to every reporter, every columnist, and every so called journalist that authors that bullshit narrative that the soldiers in the war on wealth creation are somehow noble peasants with impenetrable shields of righteousness.

7

The unrestricted embrace of immigration

Has she really said anything against immigration? Or is this just complete and totally b.s. because she has the strange idea that we should enforce our laws?

Why do I even bother asking?

8 Palin alternatively induces love and cringe in me.  Mostly cringe at the Tea Party convention.  Just not a great speech.

9 Where Palin is concerned thereÂ’s far too much focus on her style.

If we learned only one thing from 2008, it should be that the American electorate cares more about style than substance.  Image is everything.

10

 And for Ambinder to declare, flatly as if fact, that issues like immigration, large government and climate hysteria are "settled?" Silly, pathetic man.

Sadly, he is reflective of the lamestream media and political party elites. And not just the Demunists either. They really just don't get it.

11 The problem with "experts" is that the only thing that they have ever ran is their mouths.

12

At one time all these issues were "settled".  That occured in the Constitution was written and ratified by the States.  It didn't take long though before the big government liberals of the day started whittling away at it using the Supreme Court in a blatently created case.

In the 60s the liberals came up with the idea of a "rubber docuemnt" that can be modified at will to fir whatever new grandios idea they had for utopia.

Nothing has been settled since then. What is funny is that if you actually read his "attack" of Sarah Palin, it reads like he supports her from a conservative stanpoint.  Their attacks have become so irrational they no longer look like attacks.

13 Palin has a nice rack. What other issues are there?

14 Paris, would you vote for Obama if it was Palin vs Obama in 2012? DO NOT LIE.

15 ParisParamus

I saw her live at a rally in Salem, NH.  She was on fire.  Great speech, well delivered, enthusiastic and happy.  The Sarah Palin that has emerged since the election is not the same.  Perhaps it's an edge from all of the bashing? 

16 Apparently anyone who disagrees with this settlement is simply a rejectionist rabble rouser

That's fine by me.  Honestly, I'm tired of the condescending, belittling "oh if you only studied or thought this through you'd know that what I believe is Truth" crap.  I have studied and through it through and I disagree. 

I'm fascinated by the cognitive dissonance it takes to believe simultaneously that all truths are relative while embracing one's own political beliefs as going down from on high.  If all truths are relative, that includes your truths.  Thus, who are you to say that I'm wrong?  Heaven forfend most Leftist actually ponder the implications of their positions.

17 Enjoyed your thoughts DrewM. Yes, Sarah scares the bejeesus out of them because she so effectively ridicules their worldview, thus endangering its' continued influence.

18 Duh........

The Usual Suspects say this about every effective conservative leader and spokesman.  Both the Left and Right use Populist rhetoric ( some pols do it better than others ) and when Obam-boy or other Leftoids do it, well, that's okay

When someone on the right is effective at using the always-present Populist Complaint to connect with the American people, the Left screams like a bitch

19 You people be careful--this kind of stuff causes earthquakes, the plague and lumpy gravy.

20 mmmm gravy....french fries for dipping. 

21 Just as you can judge a man by the company he keeps, it is equally instructive to gauge a woman's importance by her enemies, and the venom she engenders in them.

22 You know, when a company spreads itself too thin and dilutes its brand, and can't keep track of all its projects, and the customers aren't satisfied with the quality, if it wants to stay alive, it sells the divisions off that are sucking.  Unless it's government.

23 That's some fine writing there, DrewM, but it's no Ogletree or Haskell. Could you work in more professorial intellectualism?

24 The Obamas, the Joy Behars, the Kieth Olbermanns, the Pelosis and so many others condescend to us as Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette condescended to the French rabble.  There will be a reckoning, hopefully not as extreme as the Reign of Terror.

25 Posted by: alexthechick at February 10, 2010 01:45 PM (8WZWv)

+1

Also, we know why everyone on the left and some of the right haaaate her. It's because she's a threat and a legitimate one. I keep wanting to say to lefties: If Sarah Palin is such an idiot and is so insignificant, why do you continue to attack her?

As someone commented on another thread (forgot who--sorry!): Palin, like Bush, was an idiot before she became a devious genius.

26

I'm fascinated by the cognitive dissonance it takes to believe simultaneously that all truths are relative while embracing one's own political beliefs as going down from on high. 

I'm going to take up needlepoint so I can put that on a pillow.

The cognitive dissonance is truly amazing. I don't know how some of them can walk forward without falling over backwards.

27

The demonization of Sarah Palin by the media was so extreme to begin with, that now it has very little effect when the media continues to try to do it.  She's now free to attack the left and their idiocy, and her words get more media play than the resulting attacks against her.  She can now make a statement and the left has to immediately go into spin and damage control. She's now winning the media battle.

28 Could you work in more professorial intellectualism? Racist.

29

... the only one who can put the boots to...

You say that as if it is a bad thing. 

30 You people know that John Edwards would be a better President than that disgraceful, white-trash Palin, right?

31 i heard that her vagina has teeth, and i'm gobsmacked and terrified.

of vaginas.

32 #14  Of course I would vote for her.  Why would you think otherwise?  Because I would prefer voting for Mitt Romney?  COME ON.

My concern over Palin is 3/4ths that if she got the nomination, she wouldn't win, and 1/4rd her ability to be President.  But OF COURSE I would vote for her!

33
How many times do I have to say it? Sarah Palin is not running for president.

34  The Sarah Palin that has emerged since the election is not the same.

My theory: She's answering questions nowadays, doing interviews, reacting. It doesn't go down well. There's Bill-O asking her to comment on the Scandal of the Nanosecond, Harry Reid's "negro" comments. I wish she had simply declined to comment or said something like "Let the Democrats take care of their own." Then Glenn Beck having one of his confessional meltdowns right before her widening eyes. What could she do?

Everyone has advice for Sarah. Mine is for her to quit gracing other people's stages and Go Rogue again.

35

Beware of "experts".  No matter how many credentials and how much experience they are still quite fallible. In fact, often more prone to overconfidence and overreach than ones who go not where the angles fear to tread.   Being firmly in touch with reality is the single most important credential. You don't learn that in the Ivy league.

Not saying I would vote for Palin, but I am saying I would not refuse to vote for her because I don't like her educational background.  The woman is not stupid. A stupid woman does not go from the PTA to Governor in a few short years. No matter what she looks like.

Now you may not like the sound of her accent, or the winking and the you betcha's. I didn't care for Hillary "droppin" her "g"s either and bobbling her head in that way IFKWIMAITTYD.  I believe the former is genuine at least. Genuine is okay with me. I like it better than "slick phoney" which is what we have now. I also like what she does to the lefty's. Its like holy water and vampires - or nearly so - its only a matter of time before Chris Matthews actually bursts into flames.

36

Perhaps it's an edge from all of the bashing? 

You saw her live. Could it be that what you are seeing now is stuff edited by the media and it is not the same?  Makes you wonder doesn't it.

37 If all of these things are "settled" then why do we even have elections? Also did he just put the evil Bush into the "consensus"? The left hates Palin because she is effective and relentless; it is pure fear that you see coming off of them in articles like the one featured here.

38

Personally my goal is to see government shrink in overall importance at every level and take politicians and public sector workers with it.

I could be wrong but I think Sarah Palin would exactly agree with that.

I don't really know what her role is either....or what it should be.  I'm kind of ambivalent about a run for Pres.  Let's see what the choices are.

I don't require that everyone fall in love with her.............I just want to see valid criticisms instead of dishonest and disingenuous bullshit.

She wrote on her hand ZOMG!!!WHATSUPWITHTHAT?/!///!!!?////!

39 Very good Drew. I'm in about the same place. Until Plain flashes those breasts of course, then I lose it and head out to a Tea Party waving "Don't Tread On Me" flags.

The "settled" bit really does get me though. It's used for everything now and it's simply a lazy dodge. There was a time Liberals made an argument at least, did the work. Now, on every issue, it's not the ends justify the means any more. Now the means are totally unnecessary. They are a nuisance, the last refuge of uneducated clingers. We are supposed to be Progressive and want the ends at any cost. But we never get to the ends, just look at Race relations. It's just a newer set of never ending goals to be replaced for each new generation while conserving the last liberals goals. Who exactly is  supposed to be attracted by this agenda other than politicians and social workers? Would even they be if they had to pay for it?

40 http://tinyurl.com/yj2avpy
Chris Matthews' take.  He almost forgot she was a woman.

41 #37, Wow.  I just discovered the CSpan video of the speech; before I had only seen the CBS "version"

The CBS version is, like shot from the audience, and looks distant.  I'm watching it again; it already looks better than it did.

42 Even the concept of bipartisanship itself.

That's complete horseshit.  She's never rejected that at all.  In fact it's why she has appeal from the Reagan Democrats as exemplified by HillBuzz.

Ambinder's just another worthless Atlantic twat; spell your name ending in a 'k', you fucking douche.

43 I do agree with some critics who say she speaks in generalities, but so what?

They'd prefer she speak in concrete, specific terms. Like "hope" and "change".

44 Agree with Carlton, Palin is not going to run. Unwad your panties, leftards. She's just gonna be a thorn in your sides, perhaps for a very long time.

45 Well reading that was 2 1/2 minutes of my life I will never get back. Thanks for that exegesis of nothing.

46 Note how Ambinder couches the ideas of immigration, taxes and big government… “settled”.

It's like with Islam and with the Roman Empire.  Once ground is taken, it cannot be given back.

47 #35, Palin is better than she was; so I have NO idea what you are referring to.

48 40 Very good Drew. I'm in about the same place. Until Plain flashes those breasts of course, then I lose it and head out to a Tea Party waving "Don't Tread On Me" flags.

Posted by: Rocks at February 10, 2010 01:56 PM (yguwr)   If Palin were to expose her breast, all the morons worldwide would simultaneously blackout as if it were a real-life episode of Flash Forward.

49 How many times do I have to say it? Sarah Palin is not running for president.

Posted by: This is Carlton, the doorman at February 10, 2010 01:54 PM (z37MR)

I beg to differ.

50 #35, Palin is better than she was; so I have NO idea what you are referring to.

I'm referring to loppyd's post at #15. I've seen many such sentiments all around the intertubes. 

51 #45 Romney-Palin!  It would be awesome, on about ten different levels.

52

O/T: What is Barone smoking to be surprised? Link in a minute...Wash Exam...

Obama campaigned as someone who would rise above partisan divisions. He first attracted national attention in 2004, when our politics was a kind of culture war, by stressing what red-state America and blue-state America had in common. He campaigned in a similar vein in 2007 and 2008.

But when he came to office in 2009, the cultural issues that had occupied so much of the political landscape for a dozen years had been eclipsed in importance by the financial crisis and the deepening recession.

So Obama was faced with a fundamental choice. He could either chart a bipartisan course in response to the economic emergency, or he could try to expand government to Western European magnitude as Democratic congressional leaders, elected for years in monopartisan districts, had long wished to do.

The former community organizer and Chicago pol chose the latter course.

 

53

Well, at least Obumbles will be left with this (in Sarah's wake):

http://tinyurl.com/ykaxscz

 

54 We are sending hundreds of billions overseas to import oil alone, while we finance trillions of new debt through foreign buyers and the federal reserve.

Canada and Mexico so it's actually somewhat local.

Our oil importing partners by volume
1) Canada
2) Mexico
3) Saudis
4) Venezuela
5) Nigeria

The last three worry me.  They account for 33% of the US oil imports for 2009.

55 Good piece, Drew. Pretty well my thoughts. I _like_ Sarah Palin, but don't think she's ready to be President in much the same way that the Ronald Reagan of 1964 wasn't. There's no way to know if she will cultivate herself to the point that she is ready. After the last year it's pretty obvious that experience matters and that throwing a political rookie, no matter how attractive, into the presidency is a bad idea. Her greatest distinction and the reason the libs fear her as they do is her natural gift for leadership. I really hope she settles into building herself and her natural constituency before running. She is young and has plenty of time.

56 Palin has the trust of the TEA folks (not all, obviously).

I really think it's going to be very difficult for anyone else to beat her unless she wants them to in the GOP primary.  I know some poll says Huckabee, but I highly doubt that he can actually beat her.  There's a core of voters who will not vote against her, and I don't think Huck's support is that solid.  Palin will have better volunteers, more money, and in 3 years will be the de facto face of the opposition to what I hope isn't a total disaster, but probably will be.

Palin is weird, and I think she's even annoying.  but she's probably the GOP nominee and she'll probably be a pretty good president relative to W and Obama.  As long as we can avoid democrats like Romney and Huckabee taking over, I'll happily support any realistically conservative politician.

I hope for someone better than Palin.  It could totally happen, too, but will that person beat her?  Nope.

57 Marxism itself is "the politics of resentment'. It's the politics of envy, pessimism, sloth and lack of imagination.

58 Bravo DrewM., this post was a thing of beauty.

59 Excellent post, Drew.

60 Hey, you guys don't think I really believe this tripe, do you?  I have to do what they tell me; it's a job.  I never really thought Barry was "all that," not like that turd, Frum.  But, I have to write a few thousand words a week and this shit's dead easy.  I had a hangover yesterday, so I said, "Uh, a hit piece on Palin and a nap."

61 What is Barone smoking to be surprised?

Nothing.  He's rounding way, way up to make Pelosi and Reid look better then they actually perform.

Obama always does this.  He does this because he owes them.  Pelosi and Reid whipped all the votes necessary to propel Obama into the Democratic Primary.  Obama raised millions of dollars in return.

62 Interesting, Drew. I have never seen anyone claim to be neutral on Sarah Palin before. Most people either love her or hate her.

I have no choice but to assume you are a RINO-lovin', Rockefeller Republican, long-haired, hippie-type pinko! /sarc

63 My concern over Palin is 3/4ths that if she got the nomination, she wouldn't win, and 1/4rd her ability to be President.

Why wouldn't she win? Because the self-declared elites hate her? Because she's so polarizing? Because of the girly parts?

Bush won, twice -- and the elites hated him. Hillary Clinton came close to getting the nomination -- and you couldn't find a more polarizing figure, pre-Obama.

As to her ability -- she's got more executive experience than Bammer does even now, she's got a level head, and she clearly is aware of her own limitations. That places her far, far ahead of the current President.

64

You know who this benefits

Romney

65 Marc, for your clarification: Sarah Palin is the rail road spike we're gonna drive up your nose with a 9 pound hammer, so get primed!

66 I'm agnostic on Palin right now, not really strong feelings yay or nay for her. My issue with her is her reliance on being so "folksy", I know she's trying to appeal to the common people, but even the common people want some specifics on what you're going to do to fix this economy. Of course this might be some Rovian plot that I haven't figured out yet. Rove, you magnificent bastard! lol

67 Ann Althouse said, "Sarah Palin was a blithering idiot until she became a devious genius."

  AA also said, referring to more recent events, "Here's a tip: When you want to call somebody dumb, try not to say anything dumb. Now, Eve Ensler, to make up for your embarrassing derision, you can "walk around the world." Make sure to take a running leap when you get to the oceans."

She's got the whole "Vow of Cruel Neutrality" thing working pretty well.



http://althouse.blogspot.com/

68 After the last year it's pretty obvious that experience matters and that throwing a political rookie, no matter how attractive, into the presidency is a bad idea.

She has more political experience than Bammer. She's actually had to win contested elections, for example.

69 I agree with you about not being a fan necessarily but not being a hater.

I loved her address at the Repub convention, and I thought her treatment by the media was and is disgusting.

I don't think she is dumb, but neither do I think she is necessarily the brightest kid on the block.  I do not think being super smart is necessary to be president.  Having good character and the ability to make tough calls after listening to people who ARE smart is way more important.

Palin's speaking style overall bugs me.  I don't care much for the folksy cornpone style, but I will take it any day over the ponderous stammering (and occasionaly folksy cornpone) from Obama.

There is a part of me that would love to see her get elected just to watch all the heads of the left explode in a fit if pique, but that is not wise.  Revenge and grasping at glimmers of hope is part of what helped us get Bammie.  We can't do that again.  We need a good president next time, depserately.  I am not a conservative, but we do need someone who is serious especially about small governmnt and constitutional integrity.

Palin *could* be that person.  God knows she sure has stones.

But she may not be electable unless she can appear to be more thoughtful on policy issues.  The interview I saw with Glenn Beck did not necessarily raise my opinion of her intellectual chops...

70

My issue with her is her reliance on being so "folksy", I know she's trying to appeal to the common people, but even the common people want some specifics on what you're going to do to fix this economy.

You're right, you know.  The "folksy" stuff just doesn't work.

71 This just in: Ted Kennedy and John Murtha are still dead.  Updates on the hour.

72 As for me, Palin has one quality that all others lack. She throws the Left in to fits of total, unabashed apoplexy. They become completely unglued. That has worth to me. Actually, quite a lot of worth.

73 As for Sarah the Palinator, I don't see anyone who's clearly better. Worst case we'd get the usual screwing, but from a Conservababe.

So far she sure is pissing off the right people.

74 Everyone's imperfect and fallible. The overarching questions at the pinnacle-high elevations of a presidency are can one manage, is one grounded, and can one learn. Would you be comfortable asking Obama to answer any of those three? Number three he could address but, because of his narcissism, won't really learn because that would require him to acknowledge a need to change paths in view of changing circumstance. He won't, so he's not really learning anything -- he's observing and rejecting. Forget one and two. He can't manage his way out of a profitable lemonade much less remain grounded to beliefs he'd be willing to state publicly and unflinchingly.

Palin? For all that "stupidity" of hers that ceaselessly knots up D.C. and progressives, she has handled and can handle the big picture. What's more, she can manage and direct those she needs to accomplish what she wants. That's the real skill of leadership though she can disguise it with winks and lipstick.

Whether she runs for another office or not, she's a rallying point that terrifies progressives like no other. Worse for them, her rejectionism is the salve voters now crave such that the Constitution can get a new airing. The feet of hippies have been stinking it up too long.

75 Folksy didn't work for Harry Truman either.

76 Palin actually has better electoral victories than Obama.  Palin defeated an incumbent Governor in the primary.

Do you know how rare this is?

77

"... pointy-headed law lecturer presidents ..."

"lecturer".  He got that right.  Lecturer, NOT professor.  Good on him!

78 This just in: Ted Kennedy and John Murtha are still dead.  Updates on the hour.
Satan to kick them out of Hell, citing corruption and sexual harrasment.

79 And GW Bush could never get elected. He butchers some words and just doesn't come off as that smart. And there was that DUI...

80 And just out of curiosity, since things are so bad under “The rule of experts” why shouldn’t people be dismissive of experts? It seems having continued faith in a system and group of people who got you in a mess is the height of stupidity. Aren’t the people who want to try something else, you know, the smart ones?

Technocracy, of the sort that liberals want, is a fascist hybrid. Basically a cross between fascism and neo-feudalism.

The self-selected nobility are the masters of their own domains, except where their superiors have power over them. There is no accountability in the traditional sense, as the nobles are only accountable to each other. If they want to impoverish their realms to go on some eco-crusade, well, who are the peasants to disagree?

Now liberals do want some kind of democratic veneer. So the unaccountable bureaucrats will run everything, while we elected figureheads. A role it should be noted, that Obama would be well suited for.

81 72  ditto - and actually ran a state for a while.  But I would like to see her get more experience, but not if that means we have a dem again in 2012.

82

The left knows full well that the only reason The Won is precedent right now is because of his emotional appeal to voters.  Obama has zero credentials to actually be the president, and his failure this past year is proof of that. The left senses Sarah's emotional appeal to voters, and know that she is able to do battle with The Won on that battleground.

They attack her to weaken her.  But it's not working like it used to, taking all these slings and arrows is making her stronger.

 

 

83 I really like Palin. I think she has her flaws, but I don't doubt that she would change who she is as soon as she takes the oath. Her record in Alaska proves to me that she is a fiscal conservative, and thats all the proof I need. She has taken all the really nasty flak from the Libs/Dems and is still here flipping them off while smiling.

I'll vote for anyone running against Honolulu Barry, but I'll volunteer and work tirelessly for a Palin Presidential campaign.

84 87 - Yep that pretty much sums it up.  If she jumps in, I'm probably going to jump in after her. Unless somebody clearly better shows up which it doesnt look like it will happen.

85 71 Ann Althouse said, "Sarah Palin was a blithering idiot until she became a devious genius." Well, okay, Ann. But we won't forget you freakin' voted for Barry. That stain won't wash out. I denounce myself as racist!!!1!11!

86 @78,

"Profitable lemonade stand." Or profitable lemonade. Either one, really.

87 And who the hell would vote for a guy from the corrupt Chicago political machine whose friends are crooks, racists, and old dried up terrorists?

88 I think she's made it clear what she wants to do for the economy, at least two of those six words, Paramus' Mitt's crew are the Buckleys, the Murphys, who thought
one could just accomodate Obama. If he behaves, he can become Secretary of the Treasury, that's about the size of it. I think she's ambivalent about running, but in  many ways she wants to run, if that doesn't sound like a contradiction in terms

89 OT Newsbreak: Jimmy Carter fondles woman's breast?

90 We've given having "the experts" - the "professional" politicians - in charge a fair trial - and they've pretty consistently f**ked things up to the max...

How about we try putting some adults back in charge of things, now?

91 You can put bumped and Palin in the same post!
Bumped...Palin.....there must be a Tea Party on today. Even if I have to have one all by myself.

92 Ambinder is a WH mouthpiece.  The Palin is Nixon meme is straight out of the WH and is intended to replace the failed Palin is dumb meme and the dawning realization that Palin is Reagan in a skirt.

Maobama is more like Nixon than is any contemporary Republican.  So is Hillary, in fact.

93 And who the hell would vote for a guy from the corrupt Chicago political machine whose friends are crooks, racists, and old dried up terrorists?

In 37 states, baby!

94

"Technocracy, of the sort that liberals want, is a fascist hybrid. Basically a cross between fascism and neo-feudalism. "

If you don't stop, I may consider suicide, again.

95 And worst of all, she isn't one of those goddamned RINOs the MSM goes down on whenever they think it will benefit the libtards. Who could vote for someone the MSM doesn't approve of? Talk to your inner vagina...

96 "Second, let me say while I’m not a tremendous fan of Palin, I’m not a hater either. In fact, the more ridiculous attacks I see on her (and yeah I’m look at you Bobby “The Palm” Gibbs), the more interested I become." Waiting on fishnet stockings, aren't you?

97 A._{^{Why wouldn't she win? Because the self-declared elites hate her? Because she's so polarizing? Because of the girly parts?}}

B. _{^{Bush won, twice -- and the elites hated him. Hillary Clinton came close to getting the nomination -- and you couldn't find a more polarizing figure, pre-Obama.}}

C. ^{_{As to her ability -- she's got more executive experience than Bammer does even now, she's got a level head, and she clearly is aware of her own limitations. That places her far, far ahead of the current President.}}



A/B. While it is true I didn't support Bush in 2000, and didn't support Reagan during his Presidency (so my perception may be somewhat skewed), I don't think the animosity against either of said persons comes close to that against Palin.  Palin would win the Red states, perhaps by a lot, but could she win the Purple and Blue ones?  I'm not sure she would stimulate any less turnout on the left than the right.  In fact she might very well stimulate more turnout on the left than right.  In the purple and blue states, she is seen as wanting to curtail abortion rights.  She will also likely be seen as curtailing social programs.  With another candidate, even one perceived as somewhat less conservative, you would get the same policies, the same SCOTUS nominations, without energizing the left, the MSM, the Dems to "eleventy."


C.  Basically, I agree she has what it takes, even if her resume could be viewed as flakey.  I agree that, worse case scenario, if the present imbecile can do it, I shouldn't be worried.  I agree that beyond a fairly low point, the most important thing to be as President is humble, and know what you don't know, and delegate to the right people. 

But demonstrated managerial and government experience does count for something; it would reassure; that's the 1/4 I cite.

98 Palin's place isn't in Washington now - I would rather see her with the gavel at an article 5 convention or picking up Rush's audience every week for a fireside chat (in a fur bikini).

99 [Obama] can't manage his way out of a profitable lemonade stand (sic) I think he did pretty well with Kool-Aid.

100 Mebbe we could snap Fred out of his comatose state long enough to make another half assed run. Or maybe Rudy would actually campaign if we could get him to run again.

101 I started out not liking her, and still think she was a dumb choice (politically) for McCain, but now I'd rather hear her speak than just about any other politician. I don't particularly care if she ever runs for anything again, but I see a woman who is not afraid to confront the shibboleths that have retarded public discourse since at least the Seventies. Plus, I think she's got a great sense of humor. And I don't say that abouta lot of people, never mind politicians.
Just to be clear, as much she's risen in my estimation, right now I'd say she should definitely NOT run in 2012. She's not "there" yet.

102 Great take on the arrogance of the self-styled elites on the left and center-right.  It reminded me of something Jonah Goldberg wrote a while back about how the left views our national history.  Every problem that was spearheaded by the left is a stain on our collective culture.  Every problem that was spearheaded by the right is a stain on their (the right's) culture alone.  Not only do lefties decide unilaterally what's the natural and correct state of the world, but also the natural and correct legacy and reputation of subsets of the population.  That's why people like George Clooney literally can't name a time when 'liberalism' was on the wrong side of history.  They've perverted history to absolve them of impurity.  It's also why we're all extremists for daring to think differently than them.

103 I read Ambinder's piece and I'm not sure there's much of it I disagree with; nor do I see it as intending to be critical of Palin, per se. 

He couches her various critiques in terms that most people would agree with.  "Pointy-headed lecturer president" as opposed to "accomplished and highly educated president."  "Katie Couric."  Look at her ratings.  Who loves Katie?  "Unrestricted immigration."  Who, exactly, is for that.  And "overweening Greenism."  Who's for overweening anything?

I'm not familiar with Ambinder's body of work, but I think he's less taking a shot at her than pointing out that she's tough, resilient, an effective communicator, and a potentially powerful candidate.

104 "And just out of curiosity, since things are so bad under “The rule of experts” why shouldn’t people be dismissive of experts? It seems having continued faith in a system and group of people who got you in a mess is the height of stupidity. Aren’t the people who want to try something else, you know, the smart ones?"

Ummm, well yes they are, for a fact. But---
As to the Palin lack of policy specifics argument. let's take Health Care Reform just as an example.
What exactly is the BIG problem with HC not only in the USA but just about everywhere else in the World ? It's COST. MONEY.MONEY,MONEY. Too many people, too many 'remedies', too few resources. It's out of balance.

And how specifically can that problem be solved ? And don't tell me that the answer is some more 'marginal competition, or some tort reform, or some sort of enhanced 'pooling'. Because if you do I will then ask for nasty things such as details on the amount in percentages these and other 'minor' things can save out of the whole BIG picture. You won't know and if you do, you will have to admit that they won't get the job done. They sure will help but sort of like bailing out the Ttitanic with a bucket
Obama is right that the system is broken but his 'reforms' don't reform it either. They tinker around the edges a bit in the cost area but essentially they are designed to ADD more people to the system. People who clearly can't afford the system now and therefore will have to be subsidized by those who supposedly can or by the State which is effectively bankrupt. They probably make things even worse.

Palin has no answers to this BUT no-one has any answers to this short of RATIONING and mandated cost controls, which have their own set of problems. If you for example believe that the system can support everyone having everything for as long as they might live ------ You Are Wrong. It cannot happen.
There is no MONEY.
But anyone who says that will never be elected because as much as people say they just want someone to tell them the truth, that is a self-delusional lie. The want to hear what they want to hear and they want it to be the truth. But it never is, and then they whine and wail and blame the ones who lied to them. But the blame really rests with them and with me and with YOU.
We 'want' the TRUTH, but as Jack famously said  ---- We 'can't handle the truth'.
So policy details simply don't really matter very much. Because the policies they are details of simply won't work, details or not. And the policies that might in fact 'work' to 'fix' the problems, we will never countenance the details of. Because 'fixing' things that are really really broken is a messy.complicated, and very painful process.
And we are too weak to face up to the efforts. So this is the politics we get. Round-robin failures. One after the other. But the problems NEVER get addressed, not really. And then we become more cynical and think that 'they' are screwing everything up.
Well it's true 'they are.
The problem is that 'we' told then to. Over and over and over again.

105

Who knew that DrewM was secretly allahpundit's sockpuppet?

_{Sorry.  Someone had to say it.  Well, not really.}

106 A friend of mine and I were talking about Facebook, and I brought up a recent showdown with my fifth grade social studies teacher, who is one of the evilest bitches I have ever met in my life. She started it, and I unloaded on her. Let's put it that way. Suddenly, my high school friends started looking me up, and I told them there's a reason I left home at 18, don't keep in touch and skipped all my reunions. Nothing bad, but just why?

Anyway, this friend of mine tried to bring Sarah Palin up. "Yeah, she sounds like Sarah Palin, an impotent old woman ranting on a social medium for 14 yr old girls." After he ignored my request to avoid talking politics with me, I put it this way. "She would have no power, if no one paid attention to her. But she has millions of supporters, and I guarantee you the Obama adinistration reads her Facebook posts more than they've read their own healthcare bills. Sarah Palin lives inb their heads, and that is awesome power."

That immature goof when Gibbs wrote on his hand a a press conference speaks volumes. Independent voters are giving her a second look, since she is obviously smarter than "they" say.

107

Ann Althouse said, "Sarah Palin was a blithering idiot until she became a devious genius."

Well, okay, Ann. But we won't forget you freakin' voted for Barry. That stain won't wash out.
-------------------------------------
Also, this won't wash out:
Sarah Palin Is Dumb

Neither will Althouse's videoblog anti-Palin bitchfest with some leftina whose name I can't remember.

108

Her greatest distinction and the reason the libs fear her as they do is her natural gift for leadership. I really hope she settles into building herself and her natural constituency before running. She is young and has plenty of time.

Bingo! "Not Yet Ready", ISN'T the same as "Never". So many of us like Sarah Palin, but she needs to build up her base first. Doing favors, campaigning for other Republican candidates, and filling up a war chest are the right actions for her, right now.

 

109 83 And GW Bush could never get elected. He butchers some words and just doesn't come off as that smart. And there was that DUI...

But Palin would be running against a fake, phony fraud that almost no one reading this would have even considered voting for.  Don't assume defeating Obama will be a cakewalk in 2012.  Between the idiot-core that voted for him the first time; the inherent advantages of incumbency; and yes, voter fraud it will not be easy.  Obama isn't Carter, at least when it comes to a campaign.

110

"but could she win the Purple and Blue ones?"

Today?  No.  The MSM has spent over one yr driving her favorables down.  She's slowly counteracting those now.  Also, I beleive the environment in 2012 will be so poisonous for Dims, that she "could" float across home plate.

111
Does a 'bump' count as a double-post?  Because if so I hit AoSHQ bingo.

112 Speaking of 'ASSICONS?'  
(_!_) a regular ass, That would be me
(__!__) a fat ass: Janet whats her face
(!) a tight ass,
(_*_) an ass  hole,
{_!_} a swishy ass,
(_o_) an ass that's been around,
(_x_)  kiss my ass: Sarah Palin
(_X_) leave my ass alone, This could also be me
(_zzz_) a tired ass,
(_E=mc2_) a smart ass,
(_$_) Money coming out of his ass,
(_?_) Dumb Ass: Obama

Anybody come to mind?

113 One point everyone's missing is that with the Facebook postings Palin controls the message and the timing. Obama's team can only wait helplessly for the next Palinoscopy. Knowing it will be sensible. Also knowing that following her advice would leave them open to being easily swayed.

She's really got them back on their heels. It's fun going over to Newsbusters these days. The LSM is so rattled bits and pieces are falling off of them.

big fatty asked, "Waiting on fishnet stockings, aren't you?"

You're a cruel, cruel person.

114 No matter what anyone says to me I'm voting for Sarah if she runs for President, as I said the other day as many times as I can.

115
as many times as I can.

Woohooo!  Welcome to Loozianna!

116 I beg to differ.

Piper is running for President!

117 #103, I can't prove to you that I am not astroturfing, trolling, or whatever you want to call it.  I want to get rid of Obamao, and want to put the federal government, state as well (NY) on a major diet.  Please don't question my intentions.

118 OT: Remember how in the last election cycle, The Won's campaign had reportedly disabled credit card address verification on its web site? Well, if you need to *prove* that to anyone skeptical of the claim, go to opensecrets dot org and search for the donor Mickey Mouse.

119 Palin isn't perfect. She doesn't have to be to beat the disgrace we have now. There is no perfect candidate. Never was, never will be. I really liked Fred T. Until he started on the debates and came down with sleeping sickness. Sarah Palin has drive. Unrelenting drive, and energy to move mountains. That is a big, big advantage. She is preparing herself to kill giants.

120 I don't know if anyone mentioned this idea, but at her next appearance Palin should strike back at Gibbs-palm gate by lining her path with teleprompters.  Stop every five feet and read from one as she walks around.

121

Even the concept of bipartisanship itself.

Well, hopefully the Dem version of it is gone, the version Obama believes in, where Democrats create a bill behind closed doors, and when they can't pass them, the President demands that the Republicans justify why not on national TV.

A hat tip to the reference to the "Reign of Terror" in #24 - and I hereby dub Obama's administration... "The Reign of Error"

122 OT: The Obama bank exec bonus article comment section on the Huff Po is HE-LARIOUS! They are tearing themselves apart, projecting, stamping their feet...it's a trip. Yins should check it out. Then shower.

123

No matter what anyone says to me I'm voting for Sarah if she runs for President, as I said the other day as many times as I can.

At issue isn't whether you, me, or any number of blog commenters vote for her.  It's whether she could get enough votes from everyone else to win a general election.  As it stands now I have doubts, but 2012 is a long ways away.

124 @125 That's hilarious.

125 I see people here using the term "folksy" about Gov. Palin as if it's some kind of cloak she wraps around herself. Is it at all possible that this is the real woman and not a put-on? She seems to me to be the real deal. A person of normal upbringing who is politically savvy. The oil pipeline that she finally got through the briar patch comes to mind. I know a lot of "folksy" people who I would trust in that high office before I'd trust another Ivy Leaguer.

126 I'm throwing my support behind her 100% until or unless a better candidate emerges.

So far, no such candidate appears to even be in the shadows.

God help us if the candidate is Huckabee.

127 Experience-wise, the much maligned Dan Quayle looks like an elder statemans when compared to President Obama.

The real question is why does the DC Establishment fear Sarah Palin?  My best answer is they've analyzed how she governed in Alaska and is afraid of what she would do if she were president. 

She believes that government should what it's supposed to do.  For instance, while many national and state regulators turned a blind eye to banking misdeeds leading up to the current economic collapse, Alaksa didn't.  Alaska has been affected, to be sure, but nowhere like the states that didn't.  She did prosecute corruption.  She did negotiate with the oil companies and came away with fair deals for the people of Alaska. 

She's absolutely penurious.  She doesn't believe in spending money if she believes it's not necessary.  Prior to 2008, most Alaskan media took great pleasure in identifying some useless program still in existence; She'd cut it.  I don't know for a fact but I suspect this is what drove her to leave the Governorship early; defending against the Democratic onslaught of repeated accusations of trivial misdeeds was costing the people of Alaska.  If Ms. Palin were to become president, the beltway is panic stricken that she'll take a chainsaw the career bureaucracy.  In my judgment, rightly so.

The best part is that even if she chooses not to run, her opponents have no clue what she will do next.  They have to watch her.  The campaign of slander and misinformation by the collective media cannot stop or she might run for president.  While they are focusing on Sarah, other rising stars have a better chance of winning.  Scott Brown is one example.

128 I'll take "folksy". I have had quite enough governance by intellectual pinheads.

129

I _like_ Sarah Palin, but don't think she's ready to be President in much the same way that the Ronald Reagan of 1964 wasn't. There's no way to know if she will cultivate herself to the point that she is ready. After the last year it's pretty obvious that experience matters and that throwing a political rookie, no matter how attractive, into the presidency is a bad idea.

Well done.  Don't forget to pick up your dime on the way out.

130 #125 in a parallel universe on Saturday Night Live, that would be amazing.

131 I've been on Sarahs bandwagon since her 1st speech and I'm going to keep backing her, she can do it.

132 Yes, but read further, he implicitly makes her support white, vs, black, and brown,t tries to minimize her fiscal credentials, or her foreign and defense stands. Now Ambinder has been wrong about practically everything last year, so he may be coming around. I think you're sincere Paramus, but one doubts if Romney really
has the conviction to do what is necessary

133

You all need to be careful what you write here.

Just saying . . .

134 I don't know if anyone mentioned this idea, but at her next appearance Palin should strike back at Gibbs-palm gate by lining her path with teleprompters.  Stop every five feet and read from one as she walks around.

Posted by: joeindc44 at February 10, 2010 02:45 PM (ZvwTS)

No - exactly 8 teleprompters.

One question per teleprompter - then leave saying you have a waffle that needs eating.

135

The same fair weather "conservatives" who say Palin can't win because the media has attacked her are the ones who allowed the media to talk them into voting for McCain in the primaries because "only he could be Hillary".

People, you must quit litening to the media!

136 Main Entry: ar·is·toc·ra·cy   Pronunciation: \ˌa-rə-ˈstä-krə-sç, ˌer-ə-\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural ar·is·toc·ra·cies Etymology: Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French aristocratie, from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos best + -kratia -cracy Date: 1561  

1 : government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class
2 a : a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified b : a state with such a government
3 : a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility
4 : the aggregate of those believed to be superior

137

...Palin should strike back at Gibbs-palm gate by lining her path with teleprompters.

Better yet, she should offer to debate Obama right on the spot, and then act surprised when a TelePrompter is wheeled out from backstage.  Guaranteed to bring the house down, and make it even harder for the MSM to continue to ignore TOTUS.

138 The Great Satan's Ghost@131:
"I see people here using the term "folksy" about Gov. Palin as if it's some kind of cloak she wraps around herself. Is it at all possible that this is the real woman and not a put-on?"

Yeah, I don't get this one, either, and it's disappointing that so many on the Right feel this way.  It's an Alaskan accent and a fairly simple, straightforward manner, not unlike that of any number of middle-aged moms in the country.

Add to that her obvious character strengths and terrific values, and I see someone who reminds me very much of Margaret Thatcher.

139 William F. Buckley had no problem with "folksy", but he did have a problem with "intellectuals" in positions of power.

140 If it is not too much to ask, can we please have a president that doesn't thing that the USA is the focus of all evil on the planet and must be destroyed from within? What we've got now is like being mugged by a crackhead, every damn day.

141 1 : government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class 2 a : a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified b : a state with such a government 3 : a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility 4 : the aggregate of those believed to be superior Did someone call me?

142 145 haha! I thought his name was about BJ's until he said it's really about sniper fire. Hilary voter?

143 "think" not thing... jeez I am giving myself a time out

144 When one is falling over a cliff one does not quibble over the hue of the rope being thrown.

145

Yea I think Romney is hosed, but not because he's a bad candidate. He is running as an "expert".  Subconsciously the whole country has had it up to here with experts and insiders, and then some. So I think he's out. He's not a bad guy - just bad timing. 

Palin's problem is not a lack of experience, its other women. Too many women have bad feelings about their own life choices and can't stand looking at Palin cause it reminds them of the road not taken.  She is going to have to overcome a lot of negative energy. A lot. 

Sucks because it leaves the door open just wide enough for Bama to slip through in 2012.  Yes I'm worried.

 

146 The Â”Soccer Mom” with a brood that resembles some dysfunctional Brady Bunch and who needs weeks of “cramming” in order not to sound like a total moron when she is asked the simplest questions about world affairs

horseshit, and fuck you.

147 David Frum informed me that Sarah Palin has cooties, and is, therefore, icky and unelectable.

148 154,

Some lib makes a stoopid comment about anything and imbeciles repeat till the end of days like the sheep they are, fark you lefties I despise you and wish you nothing but the worse harm!

149 Main Entry: ol·i·gar·chy Pronunciation: \ˈä-lə-ˌgär-kç, ˈô-\ Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural ol·i·gar·chies Date: 1542

1 : government by the few
2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also : a group exercising such control
3 : an organization under oligarchic control

150 Thomas Sowell has a great book out about intellectualls, and how, generally, worthless they are.

But I don't think anyone where is proposing running an intellectual instead of Palin.  Intellect /= intellectual; and in any case, I think Palin has a great intellect, plus emotional (right-brained) intelligence that has few, if any rivals.

Believe it or not, I actually think that one of Palin's charms is that she is not the most wonderful public speaker in the world, which makes her so easy to relate to and love.  "Smooth" is out.  The age of smooth, cool, and slick officially ended with the Obama fail.

151 What evidence is there to suggest that Romney will hold up against a single day's worth of sneering over his "magic underwear"?

Palin, at least, has not only been under steady, constant fire for a year and a half so far, but she keeps popping back up none the worse for wear.  Someone else made the analogy before that she's like the Road Runner constantly handing anvils to the Left's Wile E. Coyote's as they run off the cliff.

I think '12 remains a long shot for the Republicans because they aren't called the Stupid Party for nothing, but I can't help but wonder if Palin might end up being the Hail Mary pass that gets completed.

The momentum in '08 was moving in McCain's direction from the appointment of Palin until the banks collapsed, and the reason for that was Palin.

152
This 'lowandslow' asswipe seems to troll the site for Palin threads, probably one of axelturfs shitwads:

Posted by: lowandslow at September 23, 2009 05:19 PM (XbjSP)

Posted by: lowandslow at January 11, 2010 10:34 AM (XbjSP)

153 joeindc44: "Palin should strike back at Gibbs-palm gate by lining her path with teleprompters."

I'm hoping she'll keep using her palm as a hammer... a signature the legacy media and progressive targets cannot quit. Hell, sell advertising space on it. It would be the most expensive real estate in America.

She could start with:

Buy Going Rogue
Amazon.com - $9.95

Then:

Watch Beck on FOXNews
Weekdays@5:00PM EST

Finally,

Review notes from Obama:
Um, uh, uh, um


She could induce aneurysms in progressives' mindthoughts.

154 Can anyone show me evidence that Mrs. Palin is a populist? I hear that all the time, but I think that word does not match the phenomena presented by Mrs. Palin's actions and positions.

She seems to be interested in small or smaller government.

This is something which I understand to be "libertarian" more than "populist."

She is indeed more interested in small business than in big business. And she has a track record of getting tough with Big Oil when she was governor of Alaska. But Mrs. Palin didn't say anything about that during her Tea Party speech. Her main message about oil isn't "tax windfall profits" as much as it is "drill, baby, drill."

155 If we learned only one thing from 2008, it should be that the American electorate cares more about style than substance.  Image is everything.

Ain't that the truth.

156

You need more than good look to be elected FROTUS.

Just saying . . .

157 159 see 153 - not gonna be Romney.  But still - so much negativity re Palin from other women who will not change their minds. Those minds can not be convinced because they must maintain a point of view that protects them from self recrimination.   I work with more women than men. They all judge her very harshly for things that have nothing to do with the issues or ideas, even one who is a die hard conservative.

158 161,

Hahaha, I do despise the cockholsters!

159 Romney is toast. He is GHWB to Palin's Reagan. America voted for an intellect and a statesman, supposedly, and look at what we got. If GHWB had got the nomination in 1980 Carter would have got a 2nd term. Obama will if Romney gets it in 2012. Failed revolutions, like Obama's, require a rerevolution, not a devolution.

160 Thomas Sowell is my perception of what should constitute an intellectual. Intelligent, highly educated, and honest in his considered assessments.

161

Palin's problem is not a lack of experience, its other women. Too many women have bad feelings about their own life choices and can't stand looking at Palin cause it reminds them of the road not taken.  She is going to have to overcome a lot of negative energy. A lot. 

Sisterhood is a myth. 

162 #134 If Palin doesn't run, Romney is pretty much the only one who has a chance to rid us of Obamao; particularly with an incumbent, there's no one else in the wings who stands a chance (and I'm not sure how much of a chance he will even have).  So I think you are just being a dick. 

Thank you.

163 Oh and a bit of advice for Mitt Romney, aka GHWB 2.0. If you ever want to be elected president start liking flannel shirts and pork rinds, and pray the Democrats nominate Howard Dean.

164 158

"Believe it or not, I actually think that one of Palin's charms is that she is not the most wonderful public speaker in the world, which makes her so easy to relate to and love.  "Smooth" is out.  The age of smooth, cool, and slick officially ended with the Obama fail."

I think that's right.  Also, tested, real world experience will be back in. 

165 "Note how Ambinder couches the ideas of immigration, taxes and big government… “settled”. You see, everything is set in stone the second liberals think they have won. Any desire to impact these changes gets you labeled an extremist, a racist or just a hick.* It’s funny but I don’t remember ever agreeing to the idea that ‘the rule of experts’ (or any of the rest) was something we signed off on forever and always. In fact, I don’t recall signing off on it even on a temporary basis."--DrewM.

*Outdated, don't ignore that one.

The Left's excuse to revise our Constitutional Government into their Socialist eugenically engineered bureaucratic machine is their claim that the "ancient" authors of the Constitution are outdated, ignoring their own "ancient" socialist ideology gifted by Rousseau, contemporary to our Founding Fathers.

166

I'm pissed that the conservative media are so "meh" about her, when they nearly cream themselves whenever Mitt Romney's discussed.

167

Believe it or not, I actually think that one of Palin's charms is that she is not the most wonderful public speaker in the world, which makes her so easy to relate to and love.  "Smooth" is out.  The age of smooth, cool, and slick officially ended with the Obama fail.

I've never trusted "smooth, cool and slick".  Who wants an artificial, varnished and hard career politician?

168

she wants to relitigate a bunch of issues that once were settled but now seem to be unraveling. The unrestricted embrace of immigration and the dilution of an American culture.

This was settled? When was it even debated before the Internet?

A much larger role for government (embraced by the president who said that the era of Big Government Was Over and his successor, who was a Republican).

Thanks again, W.

169 Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.
Albert Einstein

170

Romney is missing the one thing that a President must have:  that someone will follow them.  O has his (innumerable and awful) faults, but there were millions marching along behind him.  Palin is the same.  I never met anyone who thought of Romney as presidential.  He would be an amazing VP or Treasury Secretary, but he's not the #1 guy.  I don't know why, it just seems to be true.

171 Hell, that Leftists only see what they want and demand what they want is all that anyone else may see or want as well. It's always anyone else that pays for Leftist programs, anyway. And following the Korean Conflict, "conservatives" permitted Leftists to hijack the word "liberal" to reference socialist Marxism, to claim moral superiority while simultaneously no longer referencing or tolerating the Classical Liberal who defends the rights of all to say what they think without punitive retribution.

"Conservatives" exhausted by world wars permitted conservatism to evolve into progressive "compassionate" neo-conservatism that financially bails out failed industries and bloated federal bureaucracy to infinity and beyond via so-called though not Constitutional "entitlements", debt, Chief Executive Administration Czars, illegal immigration gone wild along with anti-American terrorism, and twisted legislation to empower Communism from China and destroy American manufacturers. The rush to own "globalism" left ethics dead. Those "conservatives" eschewed unpopularity and sold out all conservative principles for political correctness and so-called "bipartisan" dhimmi platform to be walked all over by Democratic Marxists.

172 Any woman that can field dress any animal or bait her own hook and catch fish is ok by me, looks are just gravy on the 'taters.

173 175 - cause the media loves "experts". They fancy themselves "expert" at a job that we all do every day - i.e. gossip. They talk about what other people say and do and add their own opinions as gloss.  Its the media bias that not even Bernie Goldberg recognizes - but its the elephant in the room. 

174 Good post.  I assumed Gibbs instinctively gave the lap dog press the chuckles at the press conference where he mocked hand notes.  After reading an article, and watching the youtube video, it seems the state run media really is getting tired of this joke of an administration, more disapproving groans than giggles and Gibbs does not look comfortable.

175 I don't say Palin isn't ready for Washington yet due to any limitation of her knowledge or character - it is experience. 

Not XP points in politician career path - but the chits, the knowledge of where the skeletons are, etc.  She needs a core cadre of Senators and Reps who are beholden to her for recent election victories. 

She also needs a trusted cadre of senior advisors that she has worked with - who are her Baker's, Schultz's, Kilpatrick's, etc.  Those advisors run point throughout the campaign and can really make the difference when it come to taming the bureaucracy after the inauguration.

I want Palin to break the system first - then come to Washington and define the path going forward. Mike Pence for 2012/2016 as an austerity President, then Palin in 2020.  A little gray in her hair, kids not banging idiots, etc. - whoever wins in 2012 will be hanging on for an economic ride with little time for anything else.

176
That's true, our field of viable candidates is pretty thin. Other than Scott Brown, I can't think of a single 'new' Republican who has emerged since 2008 with 'presidential' appeal.

177 One key point to me is that I think visiting the Palin family at home would be a comfortable experience that I would very much enjoy.  There is no other politician that I think passes this admittedly personal test.  Dinner with Barry and Michelle--no thanks even at the WH!
Dinner with Todd and Sarah--I'd pay for my own airline tickets in a heartbeat.
I am real tired of intellectually dishonest poseur elites who are only doing it for my good and well-being since I (and many others like me) are obviously incompetent and don't know how to achieve the best of all possible worlds.  But then, I don't really want to live in a cave eating those locally available nutritious roots and berries.

178 "since things are so bad under “The rule of experts”"

Yeah, how many times is it now that we've heard the 'experts' comment on "UNEXPECTED" results.

As for the Democrats, I'm reminded of a joke told at Splash Kennedy's wake.  "He was a true "bipartisan".  He had no trouble crossing the aisle and shaking hands with Republicans who voted with the Democrats."

And everyone thought that was funny.

179 (_o_) an ass that's been around,

(_O_) Andrew Sullivan

180 Then Glenn Beck having one of his confessional meltdowns right before her widening eyes. What could she do?

If she had wound up and smacked Beck good (I'm talking visible hand outline on his face) roughly 90% of Americans would have voted her dictator for life.  I'm just saying.

181 Alex wrote, "OT: The Obama bank exec bonus article comment section on the Huff Po is HE-LARIOUS! They are tearing themselves apart, projecting, stamping their feet...it's a trip. Yins should check it out. Then shower."

Here's the link. "White House Moves Swiftly To Stem Fallout Of Obama Interview"

They don't know whether to crap or go blind.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
2010/02/10/
white-house-moves-swiftly_n_456739.html

182 I still think Romney (I know, I know...) is the best option I've seen so far. I lived in MA for the entire health care fight, so the "Romneycare" chimera is moot to me. More importantly, he had a real career repairing failed economic models prior to his public service.  Not just a career studying failed economic models which seems to suffice as expertise among the "educated class". Nobody can doubt his competence and I'd generally trust his character. Doesn't make him the second coming, but if the election were held today he'd get my vote.

183 I've extended several invitations to debate her on CSPAN which she has refused.

184 First: trust nothing from Ambinder without recognizing that it is the product of hours of discussion within the White House political shop. The man is nothing more than an Axelrod flunky. Two: people continue to underestimate Palin at their peril. The woman's instincts are sharp. Right now, the Left and the Establishment GOP are setting the bar REAL LOW for her. All she has to do is make bangup speeches about foreign policy and the economy at Heritage and the Detroit Economic Club and she's on her way. Liberals are that stupid in the way they've approached her. She's sold them the rope with which they will hang themselves.

185 'Nam Grunt: "Any woman that can field dress any animal or bait her own hook and catch fish is ok by me, looks are just gravy on the 'taters."

You always has a way with words and food. One of these days you and JackM can have an epic poetry hoedown.

186

Best translation of the phrase "Hi Mom" on Ms. Palin's palm is "Liberals--Bite Me!"

And as for rejecting the rule of "experts"--they're the fellows who brought us global warming.

And as a former business litigator, I'm not so impressed by experts.  Each side bought their own set of experts and brought them to a trial.  It was up for the jury or judge to figure out which set of experts were the biggest BS artists.  But you always wound up with a decision which said, in essence, one set of experts was wrong.   So I'm not impressed by experts per se.

187

Why are we still letting in a million immigrants a year when the real unemployment rate is near 20%?

Why are we still letting in a million immigrants a year when it's obvious to anyone with eyes that the country fails to make even a cursory attempt at assimilation?

We should close down legal immigration for at least 40 years. Give the country the time it needs to settle down.

188 (In fairness, Ambinder is really a stand in here for a lot of people like David Frum, Democrats and just about anyone who has worked on the editorial staff of the NY Times)

Leave Davy allllooooonnnne!!!!

He's my twitter buddy and he's so smart. Meghan and I eat up every little nugget of wisdom from his awesome mind.

189 Too much focus on her style??

Um, is there something else to focus on?

I'm seriously asking.  Is there some suggestion of substance this woman she's hiding from us?

190 193 I've extended several invitations to debate her on CSPAN which she has refused. Right, because Sarah Palin should drop what she's doing, cancel her packed schdule, and debate one of Ace's downthread posters on C-SPAN. Jesus tap-dancing Christ, next thing you know, you'll insist that to gain credibility, she do a bloggingheads with Charles Johnson.

191 Liberals and leftists are able to go through life and almost never, or ever meet or have dinner with a conservatives.^;* While we can't do the same (i.e., not meet  liberals, lefties, and Democrats), the Internet does allow us to think the liberal, leftists, Democrats are running for the hills, and that 2012 will be a cake walk.

Well, 2012 won't be a cake walk, and it's unclear whether Sarah Palin would be able to defeat Obama.

Remember, Scott Brown won in MA, but only by about 5% of the vote. 


^{*or even a RINOs; heck, here in NYC, at one AOSHQ meetup, I said hello to as many conservatives as I have in the prior ten years, and I've been looking for them!}

192 OT:  Road's drifted shut.  Good thing I buy wine by the case.

193 Palin has a nice rack. What other issues are there?

Her pins, and the fact that she's not afraid to point out that the emperors have no clothes, but mostly, it's those gams.

194 Palin will win because Sex Sells.

as someone else mentioned, Palin beat an incumbent governor in a primary.  Same Party. 

She's not stupid and she is a highly competent politician.  This anti-elitist thing is a shtick, which frankly is kinda annoying to me but is highly effective at her target.

Obama couldn't even beat Hillary in a democratic contest, and knew it early enough to pull the caucus grab.  He barely beat Mccain and it took monumental help that has crippled his legacy.  Obama = bad economy, whether he likes it or not, fair or not.  Bush = terrorism and Katrina.  And Palin, at least now, = TEA party fiscal conservatism.

Obama is not a very good politician.  Palin is a very good politician.  She conflicted with the Mccain campaign because she wanted to actually campaign and argue her message to the people, and they wanted her to memorize a focus grouped script.

as soon as the primary starts, and Palin actually attacks a competitor like Huck or Romney, it's going to be pretty obvious what I'm talking about.  They won't be able to hit back effectively.

And on general election day, you won't have to worry that your fellow voters don't know about Rev Wright, Bill Ayers, or IG firings, or that Obama was behind the deficit he 'inherited'.  Palin's not a nice person, she just plays on on TV.

195
One more thing. I get a kick out of hearing so-called conservatives explain to me how Sarah Palin isn't all that. First of all, Gov Palin is smarter and more clever than any of us. And she has more executive experience than any of us.

PLUS she has never ever done us wrong. Sarah Palin is one of the few prominent Republicans who has never cheap-shotted conservatives just to score points with the media/Democrats.

I'm 99% certain Sarah Palin is not running for president in 2012, but we'd damn lucky if she did. The fact is we don't deserve Sarah Palin as a candidate as we're a bunch of handwringin pussies who want to nomiante someone more acceptable to our political enemies.

196 Conserving the Constitutional means providing Liberty, Justice "and the American way"--meaning that our leaders must utilize Constitutional Rights.

The American Way is more Libertarian than Republican. The Tea Party represents INDEPENDENTS, NOT the Republican Party. Also, it may no longer be true that the Republican Party is more adept at usurping opportunities than Independents or Libertarians.  And Republican career politicians who have sold out for kickbacks have to face the politics of public resentment against having been sold out by their own elected officials.

Palin will always be a great fund raiser. But the truth on record applies to Palin as much as to any politician. It reeks with hypocritical dishonesty to give lip service for new and qualified conservative Tea Party candidates and then endorse and actively campaign for McCain and other corrupt career politicians who have sold out Rights for kickbacks. Damn, that's like a pig wearing lipstick. Palin is gifted, but that doesn't mean she hasn't sold out. Birds of a feather flock together.

197

#134 If Palin doesn't run, Romney is pretty much the only one who has a chance to rid us of Obamao; particularly with an incumbent, there's no one else in the wings who stands a chance (and I'm not sure how much of a chance he will even have).  So I think you are just being a dick. 

Of the major candidates in 2008, Romney was the best. Nope, Fred! was never serious enough, and hence not major. That said, there are Republicans we have not heard much of that may burst out in 2012. Pawlenty, Inhofe, Sessions all come to mind. And by 2012, Sarah Palin might have her war chest built up and her political chits earned. So it's premature to hand Romney the crown.

She also needs a trusted cadre of senior advisors that she has worked with - who are her Baker's, Schultz's, Kilpatrick's, etc.  Those advisors run point throughout the campaign and can really make the difference when it come to taming the bureaucracy after the inauguration.

This is no less true for Romney, or *any* Republican Presidential candidate, for that matter.

198

Romney has huge problems that don't even include the anti moron thing. I like the guy but his timing is off. He comes to the party with a "expertise" in matters economic.  But we have had years of "experts" telling us not to worry, and now another year or two of experts telling us they are going to fix it. Unless Romney is going to reinvent himself he won't stand out enough to capture the middle. I think even the diehard Romney supporters would agree that he doesn't appear to be flexible enough to reinvent himself now, nor would it come across as genuine. Bad timing, not bad guy.

199

It will be interesting to see what happens over the summer.  I've been of the growing opinion that Sarah Palin would not run for president (or anything else) due to the whispering campaign (although "whispering" is an understatement) the MSM has waged against her almost from the start.  I simply can't see a presidential campaign being successful at this point; too many people still buy what the media say at face value.

However, if they keep this up, or become even more deranged in their attacks, then public opinion could very well shift -- she would once again be the underdog, and America loves underdogs.  If things get really bad economically an/or on the national security front, and the media and this administration continues to do nothing other than blame Bush and attack Palin...well, then we perhaps have an entirely new ball game.

 

 

200 This is Carlton, the doorman: "Other than Scott Brown, I can't think of a single 'new' Republican who has emerged since 2008 with 'presidential' appeal."

I'd like to nominate James Imhofe (R-OK) to the roster. Technically not new but certainly new for the considered position. Smart, tough, direct, and serious. Michelle Bachmann (MN-6) should get a shout out, too.

201 BTW, Palin will have some trouble with females, but remember, they loved Hillary. The problem, of course, is that Hillary leached young females to Obama because young women were attracted to Barack. Palin, unfortunately, makes a lot of women jealous. She's got five kids, a body honed by running and kickboxing, and the porn industry doing spoofs on her using starlets who don't look half as good as she does. My advice: keep your hair up in bun, Sarah. You'll have to persuade women that you are no threat to their men. I understand now why Sarah doesn't do bikini shots.

202

Romney has huge problems that don't even include the anti mormon (oops) thing. I like the guy but his timing is off. He comes to the party with a "expertise" in matters economic.  But we have had years of "experts" telling us not to worry, and now another year or two of experts telling us they are going to fix it. Unless Romney is going to reinvent himself he won't stand out enough to capture the middle. I think even the diehard Romney supporters would agree that he doesn't appear to be flexible enough to reinvent himself now, nor would it come across as genuine. Bad timing, not bad guy.

203

What bothers me the most is the attempted marginalization of Palin and the people she seems to represent. I may not agree with her or them all the time or ever, but I see no reason to write them out of the national discourse with a contemptuous wave of the hand.

Gerard Alexander writes about this in the Washington Post:

These four liberal narratives not only justify the dismissal of conservative thinking as biased or irrelevant -- they insist on it. By no means do all liberals adhere to them, but they are mainstream in left-of-center thinking. Indeed, when the president met with House Republicans in Baltimore recently, he assured them that he considers their ideas, but he then rejected their motives in virtually the same breath.

http://tinyurl.com/yjz3rt8

204

Palin is the only presidential candidate who is able to put the boots to Obama and get away with it.

WRONG!  If there is any jackbooting to done around here it will come out of the DHS.

205

The American Way is more Libertarian than Republican. The Tea Party represents INDEPENDENTS, NOT the Republican Party.

Please resist the futile 3rd Party siren song. The Tea Party should work to take over (take back?) the GOP.

206 199 Too much focus on her style??

Um, is there something else to focus on?

I'm seriously asking.  Is there some suggestion of substance this woman she's hiding from us?

Posted by: seattle slough at February 10, 2010 03:23 PM (JRGA6)

I can completely understand where an illiterate fuck, such as yourself, would have an issue with this.

207 I think I saw the best comment on The Palin Effect over at HotAir.

Not only in Sarah Palin living rent-free in every Democrat's head, she keep rearranging the furniture on them.

They are fixated, obsessed, and irrational.

208 Sarah Palin might make a wonderful Secretary of the Interior.

209 Personally, I see nothing wrong with highlighting the resentment factor. It's huge and rightly so. The increasing number of people who feel this will add to the rolls of people who see through the bullshit being spouted by the liberal media. Palin is a face that's needed for what would otherwise be a faceless "idea" - and the lack of a face is easier to ignore. If anything, her face can get people excited as something to rally around.

210 Romney is more likely to fuck up healthcare than Obama.

I might just vote for Obama if Romney is running.  OK, that's not true, but come on, he doesn't even pass the 'likes Reagan' test.

Palin backed Mccain, but so what?  Sometimes you take care of your friends.  Loyalty matters.  I actually can't stand Mccain but respect loyalty.  There's a good argument for him, even though he's a douche.  He saved our asses on Gang of 14 (and if you don't understand why, you aren't qualified to bash Palin).

211

Whoever said when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail could have been talking about Marc Ambinder and his type.  All they have is their own bias that liberals = good/conservatives = bad.  So it's no problem to make the most nonsensical stretch to compare Sarah Palin to Richard Nixon or, for Chrissakes, Pat Buchanan.  (Um, has he ever heard her speak about Israel?  Does he think Pat Buchanan even owns an Israeli flag, much less displays it in his office??)

She's an original.  I can't figure out why liberals can't stop trying to shove her into their preconceived cubbyholes of conservatism.  I guess it would require actual work for their brains, and they just can't be bothered.  But they just make themselves look dumber and dumber with commentary like this.

I also can't understand why all these lefty writers have such a complete blind spot about the growing Leviathan that our government is becoming, along with it stupendous amounts of corruption and venality among politicians of all stripes, but especially among the government-loving liberals.  Sarah Palin made her bones first and foremost as a corruption-fighter, something that requires little intellectual power but a ton of courage and spine.  Millions of Americans simply want our leaders to stop growing the Leviathan and stop stealing our money. 

212 199 Too much focus on her style??

Um, is there something else to focus on?

I'm seriously asking.  Is there some suggestion of substance this woman she's hiding from us?

Posted by: seattle slough

Exactly.  What we need is something like, like, like, let's see - the smartest president evah!

213 I just can't understand why you morons can't get behind Pawlenty. As the Franken fiasco showed, he knows to trust the system that the Democrats gamed, and lose with dignity

214 Please resist the futile 3rd Party siren song. The Tea Party should work to take over (take back?) the GOP.

Exactly my point. Palin inhibits the Tea Party momentum from focus electing strong conservative Tea Party GOP candidates. Until Palin campaigns for Tea Party candidates against career politicians like McCain and Perry, her rhetoric is dishonest.

215 I would gladly go fly fishing with Sarah in hopes that she slips on a rock and I could catch her by the arm to balance her just to get that close.

216 How can there not be resentment amongst a large portion of teh "working" populace--we are getting screwed six ways from Sunday and not in the fun way.  That is a valid starting point for a Constitutional discussion.

217

"This anti-elitist thing is a shtick, which frankly is kinda annoying to me but is highly effective at her target."

Yes and it was highly effective when aimed at King George. 

 

218 I am not happy with Sarah's support on John M, but she would be a bit player in the hinterlands if he hadn't picked her for VP.  Perry seems like he hasn't completely screwed up Texas (yet), while Hutchinson seems like another beltway insider hell bent on collecting her perpetual Republican right to any political office she wants.  I'd go with Perry until a better conservatice comes along.

219

Anyone against Palin is a sexist.

It isn't the gams, it's the hawt legs, you barbarians.

220 Ahem 60 - exactly right. These fuckers have never had any productive employment, they have only academic or gov or entitled backgrounds. Find the fucker in their family who made the family fortune and you will meet a person like us, proud to be smart enough to support a family and be successful. These new Progs would starve without family money or gov or academic welfare. This is why they want us to give ours to them. They haven't a clue about where wealth really comes from.

221

Posted by: seattle slough at February 10, 2010 03:23 PM (JRGA6)

My serious answer: FOAD troll.

222 LOL, Rick Perry is a GREAT endorsement on her part.

If she had picked Medina she would be an asshole.

Medina, to run the state of Texas?

Ridiculous.  Perry has been a good backer of the TEA movement.  He's been outspoken at some political risk to himself.

Some people will NEVER BE SATISFIED.  Look at Palin's endorsements, all of them, together, and show me someone who makes better ones.  Mccain is but one, and understandable out of loyalty and intelligence, though a very grey choice.  Still, that's just the one out of many.

Rick Perry is a better governor for Texas than Medina.  It's not just about conservative bona fides, he's actually really good as his job, and if Texas doesn't have someone like that, things get real messy down here, real fast.  It's a tough job and millions of lives are involved.

Picking Perry is simply the right thing to do, and oh guess what, the voters agree.  Medina is losing to Perry because Perry is proven and the economy is shitty.

Ugh, if someone slams Palin for THAT, they simply were never going to be OK with a sane reasonable politician.  You aren't going to get your dream candidate in 2012, and you're going to see that you can choose a REPUBLICAN Palin or a democrat sleaze Obama.  And you'll make the right choice.

223 I would gladly go fly fishing with Sarah in hopes that she slips on a rock and I could catch her by the arm to balance her just to get that close.

Posted by: 'Nam Grunt at February 10, 2010 03:33 PM (l7KEa)

Uhm. If you were a tad bit slow, the shirt might get all soaked. Just saying.

224

Sarah Palin might would make a wonderful Secretary of the Interior.

FIFY.  She'd sure as hell beat that all hat, no cattle asshole from Colorado.

225
I read Palin's book, and liked it. I loved her speech at the RNC. Yes, she has her flaws; and yes, she's a politician, not a plaster saint. I'm inclined to like her, in part because all the wrong people hate her guts. In part, too, it's because my wife and I faced a family situation almost identical to her - a child born to us when we already had a daughter of childbearing age, and the crazy, ugly rumors that some sick-minded relatives spread: thanks to that, I sympathize with her situation. Of course, sympathy or pity are no reason for voting for anyone, but they do help me to like her personally.

Would she make a good chief executive? Good question. My guess is that she's grounded in her principles, but she a pragmatist in her governance. I get the impression from listening to her, and reading her book and postings, is that she's no intellectual, but a person of solid common sense: something that's been lacking in government for quite some time. Her main problem would be assembling a team who would work with her, and help her survive swimming in the Washington shark tank. They would have to be both knowledgeable, and not beholden to the current power structure, and that's a tough combination to find.

So, would I support her? Let me phrase that another way: show me someone better. For all that the pendulum is swinging in the Republicans' direction, it's pretty slim pickings out there. Our best people are still playing the governmental equivalent of A ball. But we will see: three years is an awfully long time.

It does amuse me, though, to hear the supporters of Barack Obama complaining that Palin is unqualified for the presidency. If Barry is qualified to be president, then damn near anybody is qualified.

226 And I like Medina.  But no way in hell am I trusting Texas to her right now.

No way.

And if that discounts Palin for you, you're out of control.  Perry's proven.  Politicians who actually do a good job 99% of the time should be reelected.

227 Advocates of ‘settled’ issues simply see wanting something different as a temper tantrum by children, albeit potentially dangerous children, against those who know better (which not so coincidently is them).

Yeah, so?

228

I am surprised that nobody (apparently) has mentioned the MSM's Job #1:

No More Reagans - they will do anything to prevent the ascendence of another attractive and articulate conservative politician that can talk right past the and directly to the American public!

Ronald Reagan set back their "long march" by 20 years and made fools of them and the rest of the naysayers in the process, and they aren't going to let that happen again without a fight - a dirty fight!

229 The reaction to Palin by these people simply reflects their narcissism. They look in the mirror together and tell themselves and each other how beautiful, smart and kind they are. Then along comes this person, an attractive woman no less, who looks at them says, ‘meh, I’ve seen better’ and they lose it.

Dunno why Joy Behar comes to mind, she just does.

230 Herr Morgenholz:  Got any suggestions re wine by the case? I usually buy by the bottle, but am thinking of laying in a serious supply. I expect things  to get worse not better in the next five to ten years

231 No sh*t, sherlock!

232 199 -- The second sentence of your comment speaks volumes about the reason why we have the administration we do now.

233

Can anyone show me evidence that Mrs. Palin is a populist?

Well, she's popular, so that must make her a populist. And she's popular because of her rack. And rack makes us think about hunting. And thinking about hunting and her at the same time makes us protest this violence towards women.

You are so racist that you cause tsunamis.

234 212, actually, I think you have it backwards:  he could easily win the "middle"; it's convincing people further to the right that would be his problem (the exact opposite problem Palin would have).  Which is why I am a lot more sure he could win the election than the nomination.

Also, I'd agree with you re "expert" if he only had the private sector Bain Capital thing.  But what impresses me about him is his getting to be MA Gov., and doing it rather well (wonder if he could win against Patrick if he ran; my guess is that he could); that he fixed the 2002 Olympics; and he doesn't strike me as excessively corporate.  The LDS thing also impresses me in that he is an outsider (OK, he also speaks French, and lived in France, and that impresses me too.)

The healthcare thing may, or may not be a problem.  He seems to be going the 10th Amendment route with it ("hey, MA wanted it, and still likes it; your state should do what it wants...").

235 And yes, Palin would be a fabulous Sec. of Interior -- in fact, I would be happy to see her there or heading the Dept. of Energy in 2013; if she doesn't run (or doesn't win the primary) and the opposition manages to beat the obernaut then I would hope she would be considered in those posts.

236

PLUS she has never ever done us wrong.

Actually, I'm pretty irritated that she's decided to support McCain. To hell with thank-yous or what's expected of her. I wish she'd get her dog out of that race. Otherwise, she's A-OK.

237 --->"The problem is the liberal establishment in this country doesnÂ’t just think their personal preferences are just that, preferences, but rather they see them as natural and correct state of the world." Sorry, but conservatism has more than its share of this kind, the most common being among the religious Christians.

238

 If Palin doesn't run, Romney is pretty much the only one who has a chance to rid us of Obamao

I really don't feel like settling again.

239

I don't think ANY of the names being brought up now are going to be the nominee in 2012.But one thing for sure we need to keep in mind; the Republican STILL have not mentioned revising the primary rules.

Hell, we could wind up with ANOTHER McCain in 2012 who gets 30% of the vote. Say a liberal religious populist like Huckasuck or the slick haired McCain clone named Romnut the RINO.

If that happens a lot more will sit out the election and Bama will sail in in a cakewalk. This time Palin will not be there to save their bacon and they will lose by a 49 State margin.

240

 I loved her speech at the RNC.

Me too. Hasn't clome close since.

241 219 Sarah Palin might make a wonderful Secretary of the Interior.

Hah. No president could tolerate a Secretary of the Interior who is a bigger star than he/she is.

242 #247 Energy sounds better, because someone needs to taunt the leftists and push for domestic oil and gas development (because wind and solar are BS).

I say Sec of Energy and VP!

243 And I like Medina.  But no way in hell am I trusting Texas to her right now.
No way. And if that discounts Palin for you, you're out of control.  Perry's proven.

I'm certainly not out of control. I've been a staunch Palin defender until this  month. I read her book and have no problem with her mannerisms. As a person, I like Sarah Palin a lot. But a politician must be judged on record. And as Palin is yet establishing her record, I am disappointed with the obvious disconnect between what she says she promotes and what she endorses.

The Rick Perry PAC is proven corrupt. Do your homework online; at least follow the news. Hutchison's ads against Perry and his against her are factual. There's very good tradition for Texans voting in a NEW GOVERNOR after two terms that inevitably tend to corrupt the career politician.

Medina's campaign deserves public attention because she is a strong GOP Tea Party candidate who has proven trustworthy in business and politics, and has a succinctly accurate and workable answer for questions, not hollow rhetoric.

244 Sorry, but conservatism has more than its share of this kind, the most common being among the religious Christians.

Posted by: Antibubba at February 10, 2010 04:02 PM (OjOn7)

Which laws have they passed, that crimped your style, in the last 40 years?

245 192 I still think Romney (I know, I know...) is the best option I've seen so far. I lived in MA for the entire health care fight, so the "Romneycare" chimera is moot to me. More importantly, he had a real career repairing failed economic models prior to his public service.  Not just a career studying failed economic models which seems to suffice as expertise among the "educated class". Nobody can doubt his competence and I'd generally trust his character. Doesn't make him the second coming, but if the election were held today he'd get my vote.

Ditto.  That said, I do wonder how much of what Palin has on her Facebook and other press releases is ghosted vs. what she writes herself, because it is usually extremely well done: clear, concise, and understandable.  She is a gifted writer and policy analyst, or she knows how to hire them.  Either one qualifies her way beyond the current fool in the WH. 

246

--->"The problem is the liberal establishment in this country doesnÂ’t just think their personal preferences are just that, preferences, but rather they see them as natural and correct state of the world."


Sorry, but conservatism has more than its share of this kind, the most common being among the religious Christians.

I posted this before, but Gerard Alexander debunks this in the Washington Post:

http://tinyurl.com/yjz3rt8

 

247

Resentment?

Well, yes, I guess it's natural for people to resent having their money, freedom, and future stolen from them and their grandchildren in order to serve the wants of various parasitic lackeys, cronies and layabouts.

Shit, fellas, you'll get your slice. You bloodsuckers always do. All we're asking is that you don't take all of it and destroy the host in the process. There's only one America and we'd like to keep it.

But I'll make this simple for Ambinder: I'm for a federal government that adheres to the constituional principles outlined by our Founding Fathers.

Clear enough for you, pinhead?

248 Let's take an example: Andrew Sullivan: the man has an obsession. And let's be clear, it's Oedipal. As for the rest of the left, their hatred gravitates between the mere mysoginistic and the outright sexual. Some weenies are like that. Sullivan, of course, is a special case. He hides his Mommy fixation behind the argument that Palin represents a new kind of Peronism, as if there was no personality cult behind Obama. For all the hate involved, it's fun to watch.

249 #252 You're asking for the impossible.  You're asking to discover her again for the first time (insert sex joke here).  The reason why Palin is great is that she still holds your attention.  But yes, that speech was total love at first sight.  That was practically a religious moment.

250

I'm not voting for an Ivy Leaguer.

Been there, done that. Don't trust them.

251 unclefacts @216:  translation:  "She's not stupid, you are."  Well played.  I stand corrected.


This entire idea that the elites have screwed up so we need a regular person to run the government is sadly laughable.  It is a sentiment that is seemingly unaware of, or worse, unconcerned with the notion that running a country like the United States is really really difficult.    Because it is.  Even seemingly simple decisions made every day at the federal level can have long lasting and far reaching consequences. 

Why we think a common person is better equipped to take on a job that literally takes years off brilliant men's lives is an absolute mystery to me.  We need elites to run our government.  And I mean 'elite' in the truest sense of the word (not the ridiculous pejorative the right has attempted to make it into).  Like how you need elite soldiers to handle the toughest assignments.  Or how you'd want an elite lawyer to handle a large and complicated case.  

It is lunacy to assume that a simpler person will succeed where brilliant men have failed.   

(And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy.  He just took unscripted questions from your house republicans and handled them adequately with no teleprompter or script in sight.  Guys don't get on the Harvard Law Review without being brilliant.  Period.)

Now, what method we go about using to find these elite people is always open for discussion, but I will say that supporting someone because your opponents think they are shallow, petty, and incurious, is not a good one.

252 #192 If he ran against Patrick today, would he win?

253 I don't think ANY of the names being brought up now are going to be the nominee in 2012. But one thing for sure we need to keep in mind; the Republican STILL have not mentioned revising the primary rules.

EXACTLY!!

Hold the party chairman's feet to the fire. It's the 21st Century, "the synchronized global information age" and high time we have all candidates on the primary ballot and nationally vote together on the same day. Run-offs are fun, too.

254 Sorry, but conservatism has more than its share of this kind, the most common being among the religious Christians.

Our religion has a longer pedigree than liberalism.

255

I think I got it dead on balls accurate.  He is too much the insider, the power player, looks it, acts it, smells it. It should have helped him in the last run, but those who liked that about him, also liked McCains service record. So McCain got it over Romney.

The insider thing was also a problem for some and Mccain knew it so he picked Palin. It helped him a lot. 

Romney Palin might work. I don't know whether she'd do it -because it'd be his staff and she'd get shafted again.  She has the woman problem - its a big one. Romney missed his timing.  The economic crash isn't good for him politically, since he just looks like another one of those "savvy investors" and God help him if he shorted any stock during the stock market collapse. 

I'm not working for Palin, but I do relate to her situation from a family point of view - my wife was post partum at same time Palin and her family were getting abused after the "speech" and I was very angry. I wrote a email to M. Malkin that she published as a letter of the day the day after the speech. Its still makes me tear up a little when I think about it. So I'm a little biased - I admit it. Sadly I think there are people who are inclinded to hate her because of the family decisions she's made.  Still I have concerns about Palin and concerns about Romney too.

 

256 (And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy.  He just took unscripted questions from your house republicans and handled them adequately with no teleprompter or script in sight.  Guys don't get on the Harvard Law Review without being brilliant.  Period.)

Its easy to win an argument when you get to make up your facts.  And even easier to get on the Harvard Law Review when its a popularity contest and grades or output aren't even a consideration.

If you dreamed of being ruled by the faculty of an Ivy League College, you must be in heaven now.

257 pep, on Romney "Nobody can doubt his competence and I'd generally trust his character."

Dude has absolutely no principle he won't make a 180 on if politically expedient.  Of COURSE his present views are popular... that's how he picked them... on popularity with the right.

He bashed Reagan and has bloated government.  His economic solutions have never been that impressive.  Olympics?  big deal.  Fucking up MA?  Big deal.

but really, I don't blame him for his mistakes in ungovernable situations.  I blame him for not having principles.  I cannot trust the man.

I'll vote for him over Obama.  Barely.  He deserves some credit for Brown's election I hear.  So maybe he's a good guy now.  I think he's a John Edwards without the sex drive.  I do not trust him.

But this is the basic split.  Romney vs Palin.  Maybe Romney could be Palin's VP.  It's the best way for Romney to rehabilitate himself from his awful record and unprincipled career.  It's really for the best.

Yeah, I'm joking.

At the end of the day, Romney might know stuff that makes him a good advisor, but you need PRINCIPLES to be a president.  W had that.  Palin has it.  Romney doesn't.  Put him in charge of the GOP where he will fix the disorganized hell and raise some money.  Put him in the Treasury or Chamber of Commerce.  But I don't want this fucker dealing with Iran or the Democrat leadership.

258 Posted by: lowandslow at February 10, 2010 02:45 PM (XbjSP)

Nobody wanted to read your link at HotAir, so why would anyone want to read it anywhere else low-slow-drooler?

259 seattle, you're a useless asshole. What, in that addled little brain of yours, makes you think I give a flyin fuck what you have to say, or think?

now go get your fuckin' shinebox, you worthless piece of shit.

260
And don't tell me Obama is not a brilliant guy.

Obama is not brilliant. Other than hoodwinking 52% of the voters, show me one single thing Obama has accomplished.

261 DJIA  10,038.38  -20.26  (-0.20%)

The elves are working feverishly to keep the Dow about 10k.

262 Oh yeah, and Romney couldn't beat Mccain in an election.  How's he gonna beat Obama?

263 @236  Guys don't get on the Harvard Law Review without being brilliant.  Period.)

They also don't get on the HRL without first publishing something in it first to prove themselves, yet BO did just that.  Let's see, what could possibly account for this?   Hmmmmm.   Book smart-probably.  Brilliant-show me why.  Common sense-presumes facts not in evidence. 

264 Romney had a real career repairing failed economic models prior to his public service.

Don't ignore the record backing who invested to make Romney's career transpire. Besides, I reject the notion that corporate raiding qualifies positively to WORKING conservatives as "a real career repairing failed economic models"?

265

263 - Comrade -You don't get it.

Elite's think that they are smart enough to make decisions that the rest of the country can not.  Broken down that means they think they can find one person or hundred super qualified persons who can outthink  300 million of the smartest computers ever devised.

Yep - each person in this country no matter how uneducated is smarter than any computer ever made. Each one makes decisons based upon their own percieved self interest.  Some of those decisions are laughably stupid - such as voting for Obama. Yet they are free to make them and I believe rightly so. You apparently believe we are better off with the smarty pants folks doing our thinking for us.  I think you are probably a communist at heart. NTTAWWT - I just don't want people who think like you making decisions for the rest of us who don't live in a dream world.

266

(And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy.  He just took unscripted questions from your house republicans and handled them adequately with no teleprompter or script in sight.  Guys don't get on the Harvard Law Review without being brilliant.  Period.)

You have something on your nose.

267 @269
I understand your doubts about him,  but I suspect much of what he did was because it was the best he could do in a state like MA.  Regardless, the electorate in the next election will be in no mood to vote for an idealogue (not that I'm saying that's what Palin is).  Mitt's proven real world competence will be a very strong selling point.  Idealogy can be improved or modified but competence is something you either have or you don't by that point in your life. 

268

And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy

Brilliant!

269 #267, if you think private sector experience (as well as balancing, at least in theory) a state budget is a liability, then we are all doomed because, well, what's/who's left?  On the downside, Domino's Pizza suck, and always has, and I'm not sure that fixing that company is something Romney should be proud of.  _{^{Just kidding.}}

270
A lot of you don't know this but you have Mitt Romney to thank (largely) for getting Scott Brown elected.

Mitt was a key figure behind Scott's successful campaign.

271

Elitists fail because they think they can run a massive nation from the top.

Local governments rule best.

If they were really smart, and good willed, they would downsize the federal government. They are not.

272 Yep - its a problem - the who's left thing.  I wish Romney didn't come across like a hooked up wall street guy but he does.  As for State budgets thats something Romney and Palin have in common and Obama doesn't.  I'm not that far from you - just see that Romney has baggage that he hasn't recongized yet. Then again Palin's baggage is a problem too. Its a little depressing.

273 Do not worry. Every candidate has baggage. Thats politics. I will compare Palin's baggage to Obama's any day of the week come 2012.

274

Also exhibit A of why we dont want a government by elites: Tim Geitner.

Elitist rule is what lead to this Country being started. Remember King George?

275

And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy

 

Say, why don't you just post his college grades or one of his Harvard Law Review articles and prove it?

P.S. Profits to earnings ratio.

276 pep at 279,

you're being reasonable, and that's cool of you.

romney is better than many, and I think he's a valuable republican.  We need the Scott Browns and John Mccains sometimes.  I don't hate his guts.

I just don't know what he really, truly believes.  We've all seen the Reagan condemnation.  I think he's a contender, and if he can beat Palin that means he is a hell of a campaigner.  I don't think he can do it.  Palin is simply much more free to attack and strong against attacks.

But I'll still vote for Romney if he's the guy.  Since I'm in Texas, I probably won't get to pick the nominee, 'eh?

277 The Primary Rules Need To Be Fixed.

We should all make a huge Shamnesty resistance level effort to fix our primary.

Obama is in the white house because we fucked up.

278 you have Mitt Romney to thank (largely) for getting Scott Brown elected.

Mitt donated ~$2000. seed money to Brown's senate campaign. Some who supported Mitt chose to support Brown. As if Brown owes his victory to Mitt is exactly the sort of thing Mittens would claim singing Romney's mememememe refrain.

I'll hand this to Romney. He put his money where his mouth was on his own losing campaign that promised whatever it took to get votes. Perhaps that's something Romney has in common with Obama. It's better to gamble on yourself than go to Vegas.

279 And if anybody has enough time to waste trying to getting slough to change his mind on Obobo, could you consider stop by and wash my car instead? The garage is heated, and there's beer in the refrigerator. And the car will be clean when you're done, which means you will have accomplished something.

280 291 - LOL  I did not realize it was a regular troll. I thought it might be capable of reason.

281 Yeah. By the way - its acutally harder to get into Harvard if you are white. They worship diversity and he is nothing if not diverse. Barry Soetero Barack Hussein Obama etc etc.

282 290 Maverick: read: http://tinyurl.com/yd34w9r

283  listening to sean flirt with the lib who was saying "everyone should play nice" was horrific but then she got to the meat of the call "get rid of Sarah Palin cause she is stupid".   Didn't she get the new talking points?

284

Re:  Romney

1.  Appointed only 9 GOP judges in 36 appointments

2.  In 1994 he refused to support Newt Gringrich and Contract of America and called it a "bad idea".

3.  He took no actiion against MASS sanctuary city

4.  His health plan is not working.

 

Re:  Palin

Currently, she is not running for anything.   When it is time for the election, and if she does run, please make an informed decision based on her policies and  record.  What interests me is after the savage way the media and the democraps attack her record must be pretty clean or they would have brought out the dirty laundry and incompetencies by now.  That is why they focuson crapola they have to either make up or spin to make the facts look bad.That in itself intrigues me about her.

285 Idealogy can be improved or modified but competence is something you either have or you don't by that point in your life.


Commercial Ideology. "New, Improved." Sheesh, revise values and revelation while you're at it. Whatever 'competence' is supposed to look like this time, Mitt.

Mitt's last campaign stand promoted socialism when he promised to merge industry with government to provide good jobs for Americans. Anything for a vote ideology can be improved or modified. The record still stands.

286

Amanda

Agree. I'm not as anti Romney as all that but basically think he's not going to fly. Too much of the base doesn't like and too much of the middle won't like him either.  Palin: I hope she runs and I hope she doesn't.

287 295 dead link

288 Seriously, what's the "middle's" problem with Romney?

289 Anyone that can visit 57 of these United States and be on the way to yet another state has powers beyond the ken of mortal man.

290 Middle's problem is that the middle is largely addled and disconnected from the process until right before the election. Romney is about as exciting as an economics lecture. Gramma's don't like him. Its not scientific, but they don't trust men who spend that much time on their hair (just kidding). He's just not going to pull. Palin pulls - but she also repels.

291

Paramus its just my opinion, but its an honest one. I liked Romney for a while last time around. I just don't think he's got it.

292 It would be energizing to promote candidates like John R. Bolton for public office. I'd vote Bolton for President.

293 Is Romney a shoo-in?  Will he take the reins and reign over us?  Will he toe the line?  Stay tuned.

294

after the savage way the media and the democraps attack her record must be pretty clean or they would have brought out the dirty laundry and incompetencies by now

The best they can come up with is *snort* Levi.

295 "And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy. " 57 states Austrian, the language corpseman profits to earnings needing a teleprompter to speak in front of grade school children Hey, you're right! That's pretty much all brilliant!

296 "Palin pulls - but she also repels." In what fantasy land does a politician fail to turn off some people? I remember Reagan. We college kids LOATHED him.

297 Jesus H . . .  If Wilford Brimly were a politician he would be John Bolton. Of course he would never be president and neither will John Bolton.The idea does make me laugh though.  What's Cheney's daughter doing these days?

298 You know what I'd really, really love to see? I'd really, really love to see Sarah Palin as the next republican president's press secretary. On her first day, she could just stare out over the press pool and quietly laugh....

299 #304  I don't know either (though, obviously I would prefer him).  I just find it fascinating that Palin's strengths are Romney's weaknesses (relative ones, anyway), and vice versa.  And I want this reign of socialist stupidity over before we're all living in France.  Without moving.

300 I'm going to have to find the thread where we beat Palin Steele into submission over Obama's supposed intellect, and bookmark it.  Lots of good links there.  Of course, they were probably tinyurl and so, have expired.  *cough*  pixy *cough*

301 205-The fact is we don't deserve Sarah Palin as a candidate as we're a bunch of handwringin pussies who want to nominate someone more acceptable to our political enemies.

my man!  beer on the house

302 we don't have to worry too much.  If Romney and Palin both run, they will attack eachother and debate eachother and one of them will fall on their ass, hard.

303

I was a kid and loved Reagan.  Palin has a huge problem with some women -

see   153 Palin's problem is not a lack of experience, its other women. Too many women have bad feelings about their own life choices and can't stand looking at Palin cause it reminds them of the road not taken.  She is going to have to overcome a lot of negative energy. A lot. 

and

166 But still - so much negativity re Palin from other women who will not change their minds. Those minds can not be convinced because they must maintain a point of view that protects them from self recrimination.   I work with more women than men. They all judge her very harshly for things that have nothing to do with the issues or ideas, even one who is a die hard conservative.

 

304 @311
You know what I'd really, really love to see?
I'd really, really love to see Sarah Palin -- and Dana Perino............  never mind.

305 219 Sarah Palin might make a wonderful Secretary of the Interior.

Todd Palin would make a wonderful Sec of Interior or EPA:  drilling, snow machining, hunting and kicking hippies' asses for fun.

Sarah Palin has bigger fish to fry.  A cabinet post or the VP thing again would be to bury her.  But I suspect you knew that.

306

Hammer - nail - I'll leave the assembly to rockmom 'cause she smacked it right on the head.

Also the folks talking about women not liking Sarah out of envy, same-same.

And any comment Nam Grunt makes on a Palin thread (and most any other) gets a +1 too.

307 Joe: "Palin has a huge problem with some women..."

Then, whether it's Palin's problem with women or vice-versa, it'll be up to the men to deny their womenfolk sex until the womenfolk get right.

This isn't rocket surgery.

308 polynikes:

I used the term "adequately" because I didn't want to argue about it.  In my opinion he made the house Republicans look pathetic.  They had an opportunity to ask him what ever they wanted and he schooled them.  In a literal sense that is. 

Sure, you can set the "brilliant" bar as high as you want and say Obama hasn't met it.  But you don't get Magna Cum Laude at Harvard Law based on quotas.  Ask anyone that ever went there.  It does not happen.

Do I love President Obama?  No.  He's every bit the pragmatic technocrat I assumed he'd be.  And that's fine.  He's an adequate president.  But he's clearly a really smart guy.

Palin? 

It isn't that she isn't experienced enough to be President.  Almost no one ever is.  It's that I haven't seen a single thing come out of that woman's mouth which would indicate she has the ability to govern well. 

Everyone is jumping on my comment in regards to what I said defending Obama.  No one has substantively challenged that Palin - substance = Palin.

309

As I said above. If Sara's in, then I'll work the campaign. Fortunately for me, my woman isn't a hater.  She's a lot like Sara - she doesn't hunt,  she's a blonde doctor who gave me three beautiful kids - two with special needs. So I tend to get pissed off when I think about the media attacking a post partum mom with a downs syndrome kid. Very pissed off actually.

310 #319 I agree that a cabinet position alone would not be enough, but what about VP + Secretary of Energy? The President's Cabinet is extra-Constitutional, so I don't think it's a problem.

I don't think that VP is necessarily the "bucket of spit" it once was, and I think it's absurd to think accepting that call would be a "beneath the dignity" of Sarah Palin.  I think it would work with Romney because he is a low-ego kind of guy.  He is comfortable delegating authority, and I think he would be happy to give her a long leash because it would make him look good.  And while you may not think it's necessary, a lot of people are spooked by Palin's relative lack of experience.  Yes she has more than Obama had, but Obama isn't the standard I look to.

OK, this is all absurd because it's still 2010.

Off to clean my cross-country skis for a hoped trip across the Brooklyn Bridge!

311 Excellent Post, DrewM!

You did a pretty good job of explaining the situation without resorting to the wet-blanket or eeyore-ish nonsense that some on the right fall into.  I like to make fun of the concern-trolling on Palin, but that doesn't mean I'm on her bandwagon. For any honest thinker, it's too early to get on anyone's nominative bandwagon.  (Caveats regarding those who seek to be appointees.)

But the constant drumbeat that is hilarious to experience is the levelling of charges of stupidity, absent evidence to the fact.

A momentary pause in a hacked interview is not evidence.  And the Charlie Gibson interview exposed Gibson's lack of understanding, not hers.

To find such evidence requires actual effort, such as examining her memos to the legislators, or reviewing any recordings or transcripts  of her speaking in meetings while Governor or Mayor; or her time as chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission.  So far, no one seems to have bothered with the obvious demands of a true "intellectual" and perform the due diligence necessary to support the charge of stupidity.

312 While Palin does have her strong points (her boobs for example), is she ready to be president? I think not. She's not strong on the issues, her speech patterns leave a lot to be desired, and she quit as Governor.  She could do long lasting damage to the conservative brand. These problems should concern all fine church-going people such as ourselves, whether we're Wickens, Gaians or whatever. So lets look for candidates with widespread appeal like Lindsy Graham who know how to get things done.

313 Posted by: seattle slough at February 10, 2010 04:11 PM (JRGA6)

He's not a brilliant guy.  He's a fucking moron who never wrote anything while he was Harvard Law Review editor.  He didn't write Dreams of my Father, and if he wrote Audacity of Hope himself he should be embarrassed, because it's a piece of shit that reads like something a high school sophomore wrote.  Even his poetry is fucking garbage.

314 Romney had a real career repairing failed economic models prior to his public service.

F**k that noise.  Show me a conservative who thinks its government's job to run the economy better and I'll show you David Frum.  NO to  smarter socialism.

315 @322 It doesn't matter how brilliant Obama is if his ideas and beliefs are fundamentally wrong. He is just brilliantly wrong. Almost worse really. See: Diplomacy, Smart. Conversely, Palin can get by on smart advisors and convictions if her ideas and beliefs turn out to be fundamentally right. No one can predict what a president has to deal with in their term or what they will need. But it does seem to be a job that awards smart delegation and a keen sensitivity to what the American people feel/want. And right now Palin is taking her betters out to the woodshed on that score.

316

The absurdity abounds. The media was so worried we were going to get a stupid vice president they attacked her and her family - so we got a stupid vice president Joe Biden.  The woman did not go from the PTA to Gov before she got crows feet by being stupid.

The stupid card only works on people who are looking for an excuse to hate her, not those who have open minds.

317 Speaking of Palin, here's the latest faux-scandal the subhuman leftist filth are attempting to fabricate. (via Legal Insurrection)

318 Why in the hell do Romney supporters think they are persuasive to offer Palin a VP slot?

Unless they are actually just trying to infuriate Palin fans into fighting that much harder for Palin.

I think Romney might make a good VP for Palin, but she really should pick people who have better principles.

The idea that you need some massive DC resume to be president is flawed.  You don't.  Period.  You need the faith of the voters.   Palin doesn't wuite have it yet, but is steadily getting there.   Being a VP for some douchebag is not going to help America in any way.

If your candidate can't win without promising some token to Palin fans, your candidate is not going to win, period.

Palin's appeal is that she is a DC outsider.  That she's a normal person with good principles and honesty.  Being VP to some sleazeball like Romney would destroy her appeal.  she'd be much better off, and more powerful, just staying on facebook and FNC.

Ugh.  We need a better primary system so the sleazeballs don't have a chance.

319 But you don't get Magna Cum Laude at Harvard Law based on quotas.  Ask anyone that ever went there.  It does not happen.

Previously, I would have agreed but since the ascension of Obama, I'm having doubts.  Surely, if his grades were that high, he would have released his transcripts.  Perhaps he just didn't want to rub it in to us low achieving bitter cousin humpers.

320 BTW I was not aware Harvard had released his transcripts - where is the Magnum cum laude designation coming from? What did he get in constitutional law and who taught him?

321 #328  The government's job, one of them, is to allow the private sector to bloom.  And for that it helps knowing what the private sector needs for which it helps, in turn, having succeeded big time in the private sector.  It might also help, at least in 2012, if the candidate, rationally or not, had an association with a certain industry with two large companies that needed to be privatized, and who had ties to the basket case-of-a-state in which those companies were based. 

In other words, how on earth could you suggest Romney ='smarter socialism"?

(ok, now off to the skis!)

322 sock

323

You can get magna cum laude based on quotas - the professors know who they are grading - even though they say they don't.  I 've been to lawschool and it happens. 

He didn't write anything for law review - which is unheard of and a red flag. You simply do not get to be the editor of law review and not have to write a  thing. Doesn't happen. That's some kind of favoritism right there. Its like barrels don't go rolling out of 3rd floor factory windows by themselves (inside lawyer joke).

324 "ol_dirty_/b+/tard"

That's a fucking disgusting attack, man.

KOS is a veteran, so you'd think he knows that people wear those black bracelets for living soldiers and have for quite a while.

The left keeps playing this game where they say Palin isn't following all these rules that never existed before.  None of these people have any respect for the traditions they pretend to love.  They don't give a shit about honoring veterans.

and in fact, they are slamming *hundreds of thousands* of military families who wear these bracelets to honor their family in war.  They know they are actually dishonoring them, actively dishonoring them, and don't mind for a sec if it chips at Palin.  They are actually complaining about Palin dishonoring vets... while knowing it's them who are doing it.

Classic Alinsky.

THIS IS WHY Palin should be president.

Romney would fold like a rug under this pressure.  We know that because he already has several times.

That's why the middle can't stand him... he's a total douche.

The culture war is having a battle, and even though it's unfair to other candidates, Palin represents a repudiation of this twisted evil.

That doesn't necessarily mean she is the One.  But it absolutely should be part of the calculus.  Palin CAN win, and if she did, it would say something very powerful that would transform politics. 

Romney fans can pretend this isn't the case and offer Palin the sec of the interior if they want.  That strategy is probably the best one Palin fans can hope for, but they will probably up their game a little by 2012.

325 But he's clearly a really smart guy.

Stupid = not pronouncing nuclear correctly.

Smart = not pronouncing corpsman correctly.

326

"The government's job, one of them, is to allow the private sector to bloom." 

I have a problem with the idea that the government "allows" us to bloom. They should get the hell out of the way. We allow the government to what it does not the other way around.  It a scary way you put that.

327 Some commenter above made a claim, without making a case, that running the country is something of which only the brilliant few are capable.

Odd that, at almost every level of government, in any location on the planet, you rarely find the smartest people running anything. This is of course, anecdotal, but I'm confident the generalization holds.

I have met brilliant people in the intelligence community, and the military.  But it takes someone special to accept such a calling in the first place.

328 301- Seriously, what's the "middle's" problem with Romney?

See polling on Romneycare/Obamacare and get back to us.

329 you'd think he knows that people wear those black bracelets for living soldiers and have for quite a while.

Word.  The transaxle's busted and they're just grind metal now.

Palin is so far in their heads that she taps on their eyeballs, from the inside.

330 Everyone is jumping on my comment in regards to what I said defending Obama.  No one has substantively challenged that Palin - substance = Palin.

Posted by: seattle slough at February 10, 2010 05:28 PM (JRGA6)

You see what you want to see through an opaque prism.  And you keep banging that shit about the Harvard Law Review being this prestigious position without any-fucking-thing to substantiate it other than "trust me on this".  Well I don't trust you at all.  For some reason tenured cocksuckers like Lawrence Tribe got it in their fevered domes that Stanley Ann Dunham's little blow-addled deserted bastard was gonna be a legal genius with no fucking paper trail.  And there would be plenty of people that would buy into that horseshit.  Voila.

You accept on blind faith that Bammy is brilliant despite having a position with nothing behind it.  Palin has executive experience and renegotiated oil deals to benefit the citizens of Alaska.  Maybe that's not "brilliant" enough for you but it's a concrete accomplishment of the type that Obama's lacking.

331 K bob that was seattle slough - some one told me I shouldn't try to reason with it so I stopped.

332 Honestly - the only thing worse than being governed by lawyers is to be governed by Harvard constitutional law professors. Seattle Slough is probably a kid with no experience in life.

333 toby928,

I honestly hope the left doesn't make a big deal out of this one.

I realize it only plays into Palin's hands... it underlines that she has a great family and her son fought in the war, and it shows that she honors her son.  And it makes the left look really ugly.  All that's just great.

But it also will demonize and politicize a lot of families out there who wear bracelets or otherwise honor their family in war.  Families get to honor their family however they fuck they want to, and if they left wants to demonize thousands of people who will probably be harassed in public as traitors, I think that's unfortunate.

And like I said, as unfair as this is to the other legit contenders, electing Palin really does repudiate this kind of crap.  Electing Romney would show that this kind of tactic works.  I do not want to select someone based on these attacks or who the left likes more.

I want to show the left that their sexism, hatred, and veteran bashing is counterproductive.

334 #343, Scott Brown got elected supporting what you call "Romneycare," while opposing Obamacare.  While that wasn't the only issue in the campaign, it was, essentially, the as big as any. So....

335 Posted by: Wigglesworth at February 10, 2010 05:47 PM (dUOK+)

Agreed. This bracelet nonsense is a bridge too far and you will see people who don't even like Palin rally to her defense.

336 Successful people rarely work in government.

337 I don't understand people who don't love Sarah.

338 326While Palin does have her strong points (her boobs for example), is she ready to be president? I think not. She's not strong on the issues, her speech patterns leave a lot to be desired, and she quit as Governor. She could do long lasting damage to the conservative brand. These problems should concern all fine church-going people such as ourselves, whether we're Wickens, Gaians or whatever. So lets look for candidates with widespread appeal like Lindsy Graham who know how to get things done.

Posted by: Long-Time Conservative at February 10, 2010 05:35 PM (0FiCa)

This is exactly the warning I have been making. Thank you for making the point better than me! And yes, Senator Graham (I would never call him Lindsy! lol!) is a nearly perfect example of the direction our party should be heading. I say "nearly" because General Powell is still young enough to serve his country one more time.

339 Also  taking unscripted questions and giving condescending non answers is something he probably did a lot of while instructing constitutional law. Seriously, its all he did, cause he didn't write a damn thing even after he graduated. Again totally weird doesn't happen without some kind of favoritism at play.

340 333-Why in the hell do Romney supporters think they are persuasive to offer Palin a VP slot?

Trying to buy off the opposition.  Isn't that the Romney solution?  And besides, if Romney could figure out a way to buy some enthusiasm from Palin or just about anyone else, he probably should.

341 @351  351 Successful people rarely work in government.


George Washington
Albert Einstein
Sarah Palin
Ronald Reagan

Again people, let's avoid generalities. 

342 something from a facebook post I wrote a while back (should be able to read the rest by clicking the handle:

In a nation of political cowards, Palin stands tall, far, far taller than the pipsqueaks lobbing bombs at someone immeasurably more talented than they and the members of her own party who are so scared of their shadows they can’t even acknowledge what she is – a true leader who refuses to sacrifice her principles for something as trivial as the approval of a media two-thirds of the country doesn’t trust anyway or a show that hasn’t been funny in 20 years.

She is fearless in the face of an unprecedented and unrelenting onslaught against her and her family, unlike the cowering Obama who hasnÂ’t met a dictator he wonÂ’t embrace while alienating our allies in Eastern Europe, Germany, France, the UK, Israel, Japan, Columbia and Honduras.

Palin will turn public opinion about her around with or without the defense of party leaders, but mostly with the help of Obama, who continues daily to prove her right about his fecklessness, inexperience and costly indecision.

The GOP establishment fears Palin because she doesnÂ’t fear them, and she damn sure isnÂ’t afraid of the Boy King Obama either.

The American public is now realizing they were sold a bill of goods about the real Barack Obama. They are also going to remember who was the only one who had the courage to tell the truth about him.

343 We have all seen how Palin's simply a better leader than Romney.  she's also much better on the economy.  Forget Romney.  He was a much better candidate than Huckabee or Mccain, but he's a bad politician.

He can't beat Mccain in a fair fight with more money. 

Romney isn't the devil or anything.  I was really proud of how strongly he stood against the anti-mormon garbage, but electing him says something.

More of the same.  We need someone who isn't about bloat.  We need someone who isn't like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pVqZzHm3Z4

Maybe there is a better politician for us, but Palin simply doesn't belong in a Romney administration.  Obama would, Scozzafava would, Lindsy Graham would.

I'm tired of that kind of thing.

344 Regarding Palin being anybody's VP again:  fuck that.  It would be an insult to even ask her, and I would be disappointed in her if she accepted.  She's already been used, shit on, and thrown under the bus in that role once.  If she doesn't run in 2012, she'd be better off in Energy or Interior, where she'd actually have a real job that utilizes her talents rather than being arm-candy as VP for whatever RINO elitist the powers-that-be foist upon us. 

Better yet, she would easily defeat Beigich for Senate and could run for Prez in 2020.

But I think the above is a moot point, because I think she's running in 2012, and I think she'll win.

345 Again people, let's avoid generalities. 

While he was brilliant, I wouldn't want Albert Einstein determining my tax code, or declaring war.  But, granting even your exceptions, does that not count as rarely?  How many people work in government?

346 Besides, I think of it more as an aphorism than a generalization.

347

Successful people rarely work in government.

You're telling me!

348 While some think of Romney as some kind of expert, and Palin as someone who doesn't profess expertise on technical economic stuff, that's really a total misnomer.

Palin's approach is to get out of the way of the innovation and progress of the people.  She doesn't want to control you with Romneycare style policies or anything like Mass's ridiculous government under Romney.  The only way to control the people with government is to pretend government is the expert on all.

And the left always interprets 'government shoulnd't control this and that' as 'I am too stupid to control this and that'.

As if.

Palin will stay out of your way as best as she can.  I doubt she'll be perfect, but this is the smarter approach.  She's not just saying it because what she used to say isn't politically expedient anymore.  She actually buys into limited government.

you will never see Palin say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pVqZzHm3Z4

349 @360
Most are not brilliant.  That's also true of humanity in general.  Government employees are generally a cross section of the population.  Fun to bash, I know, but they aren't evil or abnormally lazy.  Unless you count DMV.  I hate those guys. 

350 Wigglesworth es en fuego.

351 340 But he's clearly a really smart guy.

Stupid = not pronouncing nuclear correctly.

Smart = not pronouncing corpsman correctly.

Posted by: rockhead at February 10, 2010 05:50 PM (RykTt)

Succinct.  Powerful.  Brilliant.

352 Fun to bash, I know, but they aren't evil or abnormally lazy.

Nothing says Trust me, I'm smart like finagling your way into a Union job with no actual measurables or consequences for failure, so yeah, fun to bash.

I'll go with the old saying, If your so smart, why aren't you rich? 

353 336-The government's job, one of them, is to allow the private sector to bloom.
No it isn't (but now your preference for Romney is easier to understand, if not accept).  I'll grant you, that is how the Dems and the GOP establishment see the federal government's job, but none of them, nor you, can find support for that in the Constitution.  The idea of President as 'economy fixer' is European, not American, and is imo unConstitutional.

Have to tell you, if the GOP and the Dems offer the public in 2012 the choice between Obama the economy fixer and Romney the economy fixer, people who don't agree that is the federal government's job will be looking at 3rd parties, or worse.

354 @367
I'll go with the old saying, If your so smart, why aren't you rich? 

I'm not rich because I spent my career as a Federal employee doing my best to enhance the effectiveness of our military.  How about you?

355 toby's got it right.  And generalizations are how we communicate ideas.  Avoiding them is the job of contract experts.  I don't expect someone to avoid generalities, and frankly I don't have time for deep specificity in a mere discussion.

The use of generalizing isn't that much of a problem.  A bigger problem is the favorite one-two punch of the ideologue (most commonly, the leftist ideologue): accusation, followed by heapin' helpin's of the weak-sauce of moral equivalence.

A good example is Durbin's equating the photos from Abu Graib to Pol Pot.

356 I gotta go shovel more snow.  Later!

357 I'm voting Medina, unless, the polls tell me, Medina can't win AND KBH might.

358 pep, thanks for your service, man.  Even if you were a contractor, I appreciate it.

It's interesting that I was thinking, of Romney "Let's just see their best arguments come primary season" until someone said "Palin should be Romney's VP!"

Then I was "FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!"

It's just cheap.  You can't make that kind of promise, legally, pre-election, anyway.  Attempting to get some of that TEA mojo requires more than that kind of thing.

People are so sick and tired of classic RINOs,  Left and right just can't stand 'em.  I bet more dems would elect W than Mccain.  So it's tough for Romney... he's been around for a long time and like him or not, he has changed his views on the fundamentals.

Palin risked pissing off the TEA people by entering their arena and making her speech.  Indeed, she pissed a lot of them off.  The people are pissed.  They don't want anyone taking their movement over.

Romney has to do that too.  He has to walk the gauntlet.  The next GOP nominee will have kissed TEA party ass, pissed a few off, and done what they can for the movement.

Picking someone who walked the gauntlet, a Rick Perry or Sarah Palin or whoever, and promising them some kind of nomination... that's cheap.  That's the RINO way.  It makes Palin's medium fans into her die hard fans.

359 "372 I'm voting Medina, unless, the polls tell me, Medina can't win AND KBH might. Posted by: MDr VB1.0 CS1st"

I totally respect this.

I don't want to see Perry lose, but I don't really LIKE Perry.  He's very competent, but sending the Texas GOP the same message at the rest, that the TEA party is pissed, is worthwhile.

I'm voting for Perry, but I hope Medina makes a mark too.  I know this is unfair.  A 3rd party is a real risk going forward, too.

360

Posted by: Long-Time Conservative at February 10, 2010 05:35 PM (0FiCa)

Posted by: Reeking of Concern at February 10, 2010 06:00 PM (9b6FB)

I hope they both forgot the /sarc.  If not, it's clear there's a lotta work to takeback the GOP.  In some ways, Linseed is worse than McLame.

361 93 OT Newsbreak: Jimmy Carter fondles woman's breast?

Posted by: conscious, but incoherent at February 10, 2010 02:25 PM (Vu6sl)

No way I am clicking on the link.  The mental image will fuel my nightmares for years to come

362 And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy

Obama is not a brilliant guy. There, I said it. I've seen no evidence of Obama's supposed brilliant awesome brilliant-ness that liberals like you get all wet in the panties over. No grade transcripts, no written papers, no actual achievements, no nothing. Only a couple of mediocre books and a few lines of crappy poetry.

That's a mighty thin resumé, bucko.

One thing Obama is good at, though, and I'll give the devil his due, is giving others the impression of great smartitude, so much so that most simply do not bother asking to see any actual evidence.

363 #368, no, nothing I said implies a big interventionalist government (which I am against).  Having a strong, stable currency is one of those "bloom".  Making sure there's enough energy is another.  Keeping shipping lanes open and safe is another.

Now, you can say what I wrote implies a government powerful enough to f-up those things in the first place is unacceptable, and maybe that's true, but I wasn't not suggesting, not do I believe in any kind of horrific, French-style view of goverment.

364 Here's the problem:

1. I like to drink my own pee!

365 I see seattle is his normal 25 pounds of stupid, stuffed into a 5 pound bag, self.

366

My apologies for not being able to stick around and respond to anyone.  All hell broke loose at the orafice today.

I only know what I saw then and now and, in my opinion, it's not the same - good bad or neither.

367 More on "Braceletgate" here.

368 Fuck off Erg.  You're a buttfucking marxist douchebag and you're not wanted here.

369

Posted by: Tumescent Republican at February 10, 2010 06:50 PM (m4Ulb)

ESAD progressive troll!

Just a few rebuttals:

"1. you want lower taxes, but no cuts in benefits"

Actually that's your sides position.  We'll go further, we generally support not only cutting benefits, but the Dept of Energy and Education are high up there.

"2. you want to cut health spending, but demand that private insurors be permitted to cream skim healthy policy holders"

Phrased nicely - Dim talking points.  How about we believe in free market forces, which the Dims have prevented, to bring down costs (real competition), and believe people deserve to be compensated for their efforts.

"3. you want to be safe from islamic terrorism, but support policies that alienate muslims"

What a fucking joke.  It's worked so well, around the world, throughout history, for folks that let the mooselimbs have their way.  Let's see.  Three choices - die, be enslaved, or totally adopt our ways, including Sharia and of course an infidel tax.

370

And don't tell me Obama is not a billiant guy.

If by "brilliant" you mean "sociopathic mastermind of the destruction of the world's greatest nation," then yeah, OK. He's even got China helping him out. Brilliant.

371 Tumescent:

1.  No, cut them both
2.  Yes, exactly.  If you don't like it die in the streets.
3.   We don't support policies that alienate them, we support policies that infuriate them and F--- their "feelings" - they are not going to stop until they are dead or fear us so much they stop screwing little boys and goats.
4.   Exactly, we believe everyone should have the right to breath (with the exception of the fore mentioned Muslim terrorists).
5.   Not one penny for tribute, cut military spending last - nukes are cheap - we should use more.  The long term obligations are the ones that hurt not the 2y defense funds.
6.  stupid stat; the red states have the good weather, low taxes, and the military bases - where do you think the money is going to go.
7.  and a Communist
8.  big businesses (unions, banks, etc.) love big government, and pocket those billions -- we love small businesses - the ones the liberals love to tax and regulate.

372 Don't feed the troll. It's just erg masturbating.

373

Quick gut reaction before reading any comments.

(Palin is the) only presidential candidate who is able to put the boots to Obama and get away with it. What's she running for? Not the question. What's she running against? Not just Rockefeller Republicanism and the media, or pointy-headed law lecturer presidents, or Katie Couric: she wants to relitigate a bunch of issues that once were settled but now seem to be unraveling. The unrestricted embrace of immigration and the dilution of an American culture. Overweening Greenism. A complicated socially engineered tax code. A much larger role for government (embraced by the president who said that the era of Big Government Was Over and his successor, who was a Republican). The rule of experts. Even the concept of bipartisanship itself.

Is it just me, but as far as I'm concerned none of these "once were settled" are settled at all as being "for the common good" and other factors being equal I would support anyone in favor of rolling back any or all of these issues.

 

374 Great, now people are responding to both erg and seattle slough. Meanwhile, my car's still dirty. I'll up the ante; besides the beer in the fridge, cop a cigar from the humidor while you work. I'll put the new Silversun Pickups cd on. I'll drag a bottle of Woodford Reserve up from the bar. Hell, I'll help you wash your car, too. And you'll have accomplished way more than trying to engage those two Oboneheads. West Chicago suburbs, EOE.

375 If I've fed a troll, my excuse is "who's got time to read through all these comments?" Like most of my reading here, I quickly scan through.

376 It's amusing that the left spends much of its energy demonizing Palin while at the same time calling her "divisive."

377 why is there no outrage anywhere about matthews referring to her as an "an empty vessel ready to be filled by ideology she doesn't understand."

so not only is he a racist, he's a fucking sexist too. gross.

378

263 -- I know this was pretty high up the thread, but I had to address it after reading it.

You are, imho, wrong.  Why?  Because you are failing to take into consideration that there is a difference between "intelligence" as indicated by being a member of the educated elite class and intelligence as indicated by a more common "horse sense" -- pragmatism if you will.

Many of the educated elite class are not all that intelligent in the worldly, pragmatic sense of the world.  They are pathetic as leaders, especially during trying times because they are so disconnected from the realities of day to day life which all good leaders need to have some feeling for.  They are truly mandarins, secluded from reality and believing that the court is the world.  This does not a good pool of potential leaders make.  I believe this discussion has already been brought up on another thread -- specialized experts are often terribly narrow in their outlook and thinking; a leader must be able to take a wide view and allow room for expert advice...the elite expert, believing so strongly in their intelligence, often cannot do this -- they are dumb as a post in that regard.

A tough, cunning, pragmatic person is far more intelligent as a leader than any mandarin -- one need not look far back into history to see that this is so.

379 Great, now people are responding to both erg and seattle slough.

Well, slough was at least trying to make some kind of point. Ergie, though, has been depressed ever since the Scott Brown win, and is just trolling some stuff he copied from a Howard Zinn book.

380 "The rule of experts."

The RULE of experts. The fucking RULE of experts? Does he know what happened the last time someone RULED this country?

And Tumescent Republican, stay out of debates here, you haven't the "intellect".

381

"who's got time to read through all these comments?"

Morons at work do!

382 I can't read all these comments, but - the Ambinder piece wasn't all that negative, and maybe not negative at all. He sounds open to the idea that all these "settled" notions are maybe just things his friends have been telling each other are settled. At least he accepts that Palin is "for real" and speaks to and for a lot of people (and people he is not viewing with the usual contempt.) If this is the current mindset on the vestigially rational left, SP has come a long ways in the past year.

383 Morons at work do!

Or as we call it:  Sticking it to The Man.

384 I'm not rich because I spent my career as a Federal employee doing my best to enhance the effectiveness of our military

Good on you.  The "you" was not aimed at you, you know.  It's a saying where I come from, or at least, was a saying, whether anyone still says it I don't know.

My point being that rarely does someone make a success of themselves in life and then decide I think I'll go to work for the government.  It happens, but it's rare.

385 Romney makes me think of Edwards.

386 Come to the dark side Drew.  We have pudding!

387 I don't like Romney. He's creepy.

388 "Which is why fisking Ambinder is a waste of time."

No, it is never a waste of time to fisk liars.

As George Orwell said:

"We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men."

(And may I add it must be restated every day because liberals lie every hour of every day.)

and:

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

389 "It is lunacy to assume that a simpler person will succeed where brilliant men have failed."

When the "brilliant" men you admire display their brilliance by calling for ever-greater and ever-more-detailed government control of our lives, I say yes, the simpler person will succeed because the simpler person is not "smart enough" to lust after power over others, and is content to support a system that allows individuals maximal freedom. As Friedrich Hayek pointed out so well, the crucial error of "smart" elites was to think that because they were so smart that they were qualified to micro-manage society. In point of fact, a society works much better if its functioning is largely left to the trillions of daily decisions made by millions of free individuals.

390 Taxes, big government? Debatable. On immigration, Bush had it about right actually. And at the root of most of the opposition to that, well, it's time honored. Anybody who's listened to their grandparents, realizes these folks are saying the same thing their elders were saying about grandma and grandpa. Pretty much rooted in bigotry. Oh. How is the term 'attractive' applied to a shrill, goggle-eyed, psycho ninny? Just curious. There are still real women out there. Make their acquaintance.

391 How is the term 'attractive' applied to a shrill, goggle-eyed, psycho ninny?

Maybe you thought posting this on a dead thread would prevent being called out as a worthless cocksucker.

392 Better resentment that "ressentiment," the sine qua non of modern statist "liberalism." I confess: I resent statists, too. I get very resentful when someone points the government gun at my head. I'm funny that way.

393 There are still real women out there. Make their acquaintance. How do you do, cheesedick?

394

Hmmmmmmm.......voters lack of "brilliance", research and intelligent discussion on which way our country should go (capitalism or socialism for lack of better terms) along with a "brilliant" president to lead.  What could go wrong?

Oh, sorry, it already did.

We got the president we deserved. 

How about looking at what a person's record is and what they stand for?  Who exactly do they pal around with?  I guess Palin was right about that one too.  Palin pals around with Piper and that is good enough for me!

 

 

 

395 353 326 That was masterfully done! My hat's off to you both!

396 349

Scott Brown put to rest that "party of no" nonsense in blue Massachusetts. He also pointed out that their taxes would be going up while they bought something for the rest of the country that they weren't happy with themselves. I don't see how this helps Romney.

397 333

We have a great primary system. After all, McCain beat Romney in it. Palin dragged Maverick's tired old ass across the finish line. She can beat Romney in red fuck-me pumps with one hand tied behind her back.