Continetti: Sarah Palin And The New Populism

The Weekly Standard's associate editor Matthew Continetti's book The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried To Bring Down a Rising Star was published this week. In his latest essay for TWS, Continetti examines the similarities between Jackson, Bryan, Reagan, and Sarah Palin and finds that they are "striking":

This is not to say that they are alike in every respect. Nor is it to say that Palin's achievements to date rank with the others'. And, of course, American populism is a deep and complex tradition. But it's nonetheless true that a couple of traits span the centuries and unify these four political figures. The first is the reaction they provoke among the elites of their age--what one might call the "Coonskin Cap Critique." The second is their advocacy of dispersed power, open markets, and American individualism.

[...]

Last year the public elected an inspirational leader who promised change. Barack Obama promised to open government, end insiderism, and confer no special privileges. He promised to reach across the aisle and adopt his opponents' best ideas.

This was all an illusion. As the Obama presidency has developed, people have realized that this is not the change they sought. The Treasury secretary is a tax cheat overseeing a Wall Street bailout program. The congressman in charge of the tax code is under investigation for various frauds. From auto bailouts to the stimulus to health care, the president has implemented or advocated policies of which the people disapprove.

Obama's governing style is based on personal interaction with major policy stakeholders. So, when the president formulates a policy, he brings into the White House all the titans of industry and top lobbyists who might be affected. The rule applies whether the issue is the financial system, climate change, or health care: Obama listens to and makes deals with market incumbents. The theory is that such negotiations will produce legislation that satisfies everyone involved. But whatever the benefits, the costs are all too clear: Incumbent stakeholders use government access to drive out competition, increase their leverage, and limit transparency.

In other words, Obama has rejected the tradition of Jackson, Bryan, and Reagan. He has rejected putting trust in the common wisdom and collective judgments of the American people. He's sought comfort in the "expert" knowledge of technocratic elites. Liberal Democrats in Congress set the agenda. The unions drive trade, health, and labor policy. The bankers drive economic policy. Joe Six Pack is left out in the cold.

But the elites continue to mess things up. Confidence in American institutions continues to erode. Faith in the American future continues to decline.

Is there an exit? Yes. All it would take is for a populist leader like the one in Wasilla to pick up the Jacksonian, Bryanite, Reaganite torch and deliver this simple message to Obama and the political class: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this big-government crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon the cross of Goldman Sachs.

It's an excellent analysis by Continetti and should be read in its entirety here.

Update: Manly weighs in on the topic here.

- JP

Sarah Palin: A Message to Alaskans

Former Governor Sarah Palin has a new statement up on her Facebook Notes page:

A Message to Alaskans about the Stimulus Veto and the Health Care Town Halls

Tomorrow begins an important week for Alaskans.

On Monday, state lawmakers will meet to override my veto of stimulus funds. As Governor, I did my utmost to warn our legislators that accepting stimulus funds will further tie Alaska to the federal government and chip away at Alaska’s right to chart its own course. Enforcing the federal building code requirements, which Governor Parnell and future governors will be forced to adopt in order to accept these energy funds, will eventually cost the state more than it receives. There are clear ropes attached, and Alaskans will soon find themselves tied down by codes which will dictate how we build and renovate homes and businesses. The state has hundreds of millions of dollars already budgeted for conservation, weatherization and renewable energy development. Legislators don’t need to play politics as usual and accept these funds and the ropes that come with them.

Also this week, Alaskans will join Senators Murkowski and Begich in town hall meetings to discuss the current health care legislation. There are many disturbing details in the current bill that Washington is trying to rush through Congress, but we must stick to a discussion of the issues and not get sidetracked by tactics that can be accused of leading to intimidation or harassment. Such tactics diminish our nation’s civil discourse which we need now more than ever because the fine print in this outrageous health care proposal must be understood clearly and not get lost in conscientious voters’ passion to want to make elected officials hear what we are saying. Let’s not give the proponents of nationalized health care any reason to criticize us.

- Sarah Palin

- JP

For Sarah Palin, timing is everything

Our friend Bill at Governor Palin for President 2012 says that the citizen uprising that we are seeing reflected in the recent town hall meetings shows the wisdom in Sarah Palin's decision to resign:

"So, what do these everyday Americans pushing
back against socialist policies tell us? That
there is real buyer's remorse going on. They
bought the product because of the fancy
packaging, but didn't read the fine print.
They want to 'change' it back."

We are struck by the timing of all of this. It could just be coincidence, but we believe that Sarah Palin sensed the growing anger out there in the land back in June, or perhaps she had access to some GOP polling data which accurately predicted a trend in the making. The old saying that timing is everything fits nicely into that latter scenario. With the local hate bloggers essentially gumming up the works of state government in Alaska, Sarah Palin may have realized that her time to return to the national stage would soon be upon her.

Remember, Willie Brown, the long-time mayor of San Francisco and a Democrat, wrote just a week after Sarah's July 3 announcement that she intended to resign that her decision was "a brilliant move":

"Palin has some of the best political instincts I have ever seen."

[...]

"If Palin wants to play on the national field, she has to be free to move around. She has to be able to drop into Indiana, Ohio or Tennessee and help Republican candidates raise money. She has to be available for radio and TV."

We believe Hizzonor is right, but he what he overlooked was that she also has to be ready for tea parties and town halls. After a two-week vacation of sorts, we may see Sarah the Runner hitting the ground in motion Monday. She will have plenty to work with, as Bill points out:

By resigning, but not fading into the background, Sarah Palin can become the embodiment of voter frustration with the governing elites of both parties, who are talking down to America from their thrones in Washington. Her resignation could be a matching of actions and words that is unheard of in political circles these days.

If she plays her cards right, Palin can become the face of the tea parties and the town halls. She can be the Mrs. Smith that will not only bake apple pies, but also go to Washington to drain the swamp.

Indeed, Kathryn Jean Lopez has already christened the former governor "Belle of the August Town Halls." The 2008 GOP vice presidential candidates's bold statement on the health care debate raging in the land was perfectly timed for a weekend release, and we will be surprised if we do not see some kind of follow up from her come Monday.

The Democrats are not making their case, and by attempting to demonize the protesters, many of whom are not Republicans, but independents and blue-collar (read: "Reagan") Democrats, the Donkey Fish (see photo above) could be swimming right into Sarahcuda's corner of the cove.

- JP