"I will go around the country on behalf of candidates who believe in the right things, regardless of their party label or affiliation. People are so tired of the partisan stuff — even my own son is not a Republican."So what is the Republican Party's 2008 vice presidential candidate trying to accomplish here? Unlike David Frum, we're not a mind readers and can only speculate. It is doubtful that Democrats, even the Blue Dog variety, will ask her to campaign for them.
What we think she's doing is twofold:
1. She's going after off blue-collar Democrat voters
2. She's sending a not-so-subtle message to the Republican party establishment. It goes something like this:
"If you continue to favor Vichy Republicans (like Crist) at the expense of conservatives (like Rubio), you will have lost the base. Continue to ignore the grassroots at your own peril. They are already angry with you, and if you do not show them some love, you will have lost them, possibly forever."But that's our opinion.
As for the rest of the article, it's standard drive-by media fare. Most Palin supporters will get as far as the fish wrapper's use of the phrase "the polarizing Alaskan" and stop reading right there.
The drive by media, even the supposed more "conservative" outlets such as The Washington Times and Fox News, doesn't get it, except for a few lonely voices in the midst of their wilderness - like Glenn Beck. The center-right media elite are as divorced from the grassroots as is the GOP hierarchy.
- JP
Update: Reaction from Tammy Bruce here, Dan Riehl here.
OK. A brilliant poster at C4P has a different take:
ReplyDeleteRusty said...
I thinh some are missing the point about Sarah's strategy. She is not saying she will campaign for any Democrat over the Republican opponent. I believe she was saying that she would help conservative Democrats out in their PRIMARIES against far lefties.
Take this example. A Congressioonal District in New York State. Based on past elections, the Republicans have no chance of ever winning the district. The current incumbent is a conservative Dem. But he is being challenged in his primary by an ultra liberal who is being heavily financed with Soros money - and the race is close. I think what Sarah is saying in this case, she would support and fundraise for this conservative Dem to ensure he doesn't lose his primary to the ultra liberal. She would also encourage Republican voters to cross over and vote for the conservative Democrat in the primary (assuming an open primary) in order to ensure this district continues to be represented by someone who has conservative views. However, once he wins he is on his own in the general. That's all I think Sarah is saying and it makes sense.
This is a good strategy for Sarah to pursue for two reasons. First, because of her attack dog role in 2008 she is viewed by many independents and Democrats as being too partisan. She needs to show she is not a hard line partisan in order to attract these voters to cross over and vote for her in 2012.
Also, if elected President in 2012, she will need a conservative minded Congress - both Republican and Democratic to get her reforms through. Remember Reagan was able to get his agenda through with a Democratic House because apart from the leadership, there were a lot of conservative Democrats who supported Reagan's initiatives.
If Democratic Congressional seats keep being won by the loonie left, even if Sarah is elected as President she won't be able to do much. It will be just like the Alaska Legislature all over again.
July 11, 2009 3:21 PM
With all due respect to Rusty, my take is that she is taking aim squarely at the GOP hierarchy. The Republican Party is out of touch and out of control. The NRSC is even injecting itself into primary racea to back squishes like Crist over conservatives such as Rubio.
ReplyDeleteDespite everything grassroots conservatives the few of our fellows on Capitol Hill who get it, the GOP establishment refuses to listen to us. Sarah Palin can see the train wreck coming if the party "leadership" doesn't wake up.
What better way to wake them up than to make it public that she will campaign for conservative Democrats. Actually, there are few, if any, "conservative" Democrats. Zell Miller turned out the lights after he left that room years ago.
There is a scene in "The Hunt for Red October" where the XO, in temporary command of the USS Dallas, cuts in front of a Russian torpedo to save his Captain, fellow crew members and Ryan aboard the Red October from certain death. The torpedo changes course and goes after the Dallas. The XO executes an emergency blow of all tanks to put the boat on the surface. One of the Red October's crew who witnesses the Dallas breaking the surface shouts, "Captain scared them out of the water." Though he minterpreted what happened, his line is an apt description of what Gov. Palin is doing to the out-of-touch "leadership" of the GOP. She intends to "scare them out of the water."
Whether she is successful with this tactic or not, she will have their undivided attention.
- JP
I agree that her comments are mostly aimed at the GOP leadership. I can envision scenarios in primaries (Fla. Gov?) where the RNC and SarahPac support opposing candidates.
ReplyDeleteI think she would like to help in some Dem primaries to defeat the loony left, but that would be trickier as the Dem in question would probably not want to be associated with her. She would need to help quietly behind the scenes in that case. I do think she envisions some kind of GOP/Blue Dog Dem conservative coalition in Congress, like Reagan had in 1981.
I love the reference to The Hunt for Red October, one of my all time favorite movies. I have to agree with you that she's sending that message to the GOP establishment. It's a clear message to me.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I'm glad I was sitting when I read this and Tammy Bruce's take that she's hinting at an independent conservative movement. This is some of the best, happiest news I've ever heard.