Congressional candidates have a fee-vah and the only prescription is Palinmania
posted at 9:45 pm on September 8, 2008 by Allahpundit
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This is what happened to Tom Eagleton shortly before he dropped out, right? Insatiable demand among his own party’s rank and file for stops in their districts to boost congressional turnout?
Ten days after the pick, she’s the most popular Republican in America. (Except, maybe, for errrr … Colin Powell.)
One Republican source called it a “huge and immediate” response and attributed it to Palin’s role in helping close the enthusiasm gap between the GOP and Democrats.
“There’s a lot of requests being made,” the source said. “But there’s only 58 days until the election, and they’ll be heavily campaigning. The details will have to be worked out…
Congressional campaigns contacted by The Hill were nearly unanimous in saying they would love for Palin to visit their districts. Many had already requested her presence, and most of the rest said they would do so soon…
[Rep. Tom] Feeney said the “last Republican to enter the national stage with such impressive force was Ronald Reagan in 1964, with his ‘A Time for Choosing’ speech on behalf of Barry Goldwater.”…
President Bush’s and Vice President Cheney’s low approval ratings make them risky campaign trail guests, and McCain hasn’t always motivated the base of the party, even if Republicans appear to be coming off a successful convention.
The current going rate for a seat at the head table and a photo with our heroine: $50,000. A spokesman for one congressional candidate in Maryland says he’ll settle for Todd Palin if they can’t net the ‘Cuda. Exit question: Let’s say, hypothetically, my crazy pessimism proves well founded and Maverick loses narrowly in November. What does Palin do in the aftermath? Barring any major screw-ups before the election, she’ll be the biggest star in the party — bright enough that it’s hard to imagine her going back to Alaska and lying low for three years until the 2012 primaries. It’s too late to run for Stevens’s Senate seat, though, and there’s no reason to think Lisa Murkowski will want to step aside when her term’s up in 2010. Palin’s profile will stay reasonably high thanks to energy issues, but aside from that she’ll be in media Siberia, with the DNC doing whatever it can to help Alaska Dems hassle her to derail her before she can run for president four years from now. Or am I missing something? They’re not going to take our ‘Cuda away from us, are they?
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I could have posted the exact same thoughts. My only uncertainty is how McCain intends to use Palin in his administration. Is this a “shut those damned social conservatives up” nomination to get elected or is Palin going to be part of the team after the votes are counted.
One of the real strengths of the GWB administration was the way that VP Cheney was really part of the team with no pretense that he was going to run for the top job. He has not been the usual party member biding time as VP before being able to run for the top job. I think the nation benefited from that relationship. Neither pairing in 2008 gives me confidence. Biden is on the ticket to give Obama gravitas but is he really willing to be in the second spot for eight years (if Obama wins in 2008 he is the automatic candidate in 2012). Four or even eight years of Palin as VP is a different matter. It could be deemed an “education” but that misses the point that the POTUS/VP relationship works best when it is a partnership.
highhopes on September 8, 2008 at 11:21 PM
I totally agree. My opinion of McCain started improving as soon as he played the Euro tour so well. He hit Obama in his strength(celebrity) and didn’t let up until it was a weakness they were trying to downplay.
Then he had at least half the news cycle during the Democratic convention with his commercials, his building of suspense over the VP pick… he had them doing somersaults over what he would “look straight at the camera and say to the American people” the night Obama accepted the nomination. And then he cut off the convention bounce with the actual choice of Palin.
I’d say I’m about to trust McCain with amnesty again at this point. He has been brillant! This is the most amazing display of gamemanship I think I have ever seen in politics.
I also like the chance for sucess…now. McCain has momentum. I really thought he was too old to be President but if he can run the country as well as he is running this campaign. He is going to go down in history right up there with Reagan. This is just amazing.
And I like Palin too. But what I really like is that unlike Bush, McCain brought the future of the party into this campaign. His plan is long term–he is going to make his mark. Palin’s story begins with McCain. That is a brillant stroke.
petunia on September 8, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Put the farking Despair-o-Meter away, Allah. Open your farking eyes. The train is coming down the track. It’s 1984 – all over again.
ManlyRash on September 8, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Colin Powell’s a Republican?
Note to The GOP: Keep Ted Stevens as far away from Gov. Palin as possible. In fact, maybe it’s time for Stevens to go on a fact finding mission to Guam.
If they can make some big sweeps, from battleground to battleground within the Gov’s schedule, it would be a double dip that helps the whole ticket, especially in crucial swing districts. The most important thing to remember is not to spread her too thin and don’t over-expose her. Over-exposure is one of the things I think may be hurting Barry at this point; people are just tired of seeing the guy. Keep her fresh. Sometimes less is more.
SuperCool on September 8, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Heh. Except The Reverend Jessee has endorsed Obama instead of Mayor Marion Barry.
Ah……..the good old days.
BacaDog on September 8, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Thanks, highhopes. I’m with you on Cheney, but I think he set a very high bar for VP. I can’t remember, or remember reading about, any other VP who was as important and effective. I’m really sad to see him go.
I think that Cheney has set forth a new framework for the P/VP relationship and it would be great if McCain and Palin could fit into it, but we’ll have to see. If she is given the energy issue, and assuming that she is up to the task, things could work out nicely. It’s going to be an interesting week – that’s for sure.
(BTW, just between us, I like Bush but deep down, I’ve always been a Cheney supporter, really)
Well said. I would only say that I’m not quite as optimistic about turning McCain on amnesty (I assume that that’s just a fight that’s going to have to take place) but I do get the feeling that he might still be movable. If someone comes up with a really interesting solution (that we would accept), I can see McCain liking it. There does seem to be that chance, now. If not, it’ll just be a knock-down, drag-out fight again, like we all assumed it would be anyhow.
I forgot to credit McCain’s team in my last post. The European tour, as you pointed out, is when they just started changing things in very interesting ways. I don’t know much about the team, yet, but there are some very good people there.
progressoverpeace on September 8, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Oh! I think you are wrong. Palin would finish out her term as Governor and then position herself for higher office. Palin and (more importantly) her family is poised for going beyond the top political job in Alaska. Now that the ‘cuda is in the national spotlight, she isn’t going anywhere soon.
highhopes on September 8, 2008 at 11:56 PM
After serving two successful terms as Governor, she could grab the first House or Senate seat in AK and be on the way to DC to stir things up a bit.
Wonder if she’d be a welcome member of the Congressional Womens Caucus?
BacaDog on September 8, 2008 at 11:59 PM
Heh. Yep – verbatim.
Nope. She’s here to stay.
Jaibones on September 8, 2008 at 11:59 PM
highhopes on September 8, 2008 at 11:56 PM
I agree, that seems the smart way to go. She could do a second term as the Gov. if the national scene isn’t favorable. I am trying to remind myself that I am in almost as much of a idealogical bubble as those crazy left wingers but I must say I am getting really good vibes. But I don’t want to be a Democrat, be astounded if I lose and call everybody a cheater.
Cindy Munford on September 9, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Absolutely. She reminds me of the up North version of Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
highhopes on September 9, 2008 at 12:22 AM
Timing is everything. Sarah won’t fade into nothingness (she can always move to some random state and become a Senator there, right?), but she won’t generate this kind of enthusiasm again. Same with Obama, but he’s alredy fading, whereas Sarah is peaking. Gotta ride this wave through November baby!
WisCon on September 9, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Well, if nothing else, a lucrative career sitting opposite Colmes when Hannity is out.
Next morning headline: Once again, Colmees was a dumbass.
BacaDog on September 9, 2008 at 12:33 AM
Palin and other smart conservative women like her are the future of the GOP. In a sense this is a return to the debate where conservative females refused to give accede to the feminist movement. Sarah Palin proves you can “have it all” and still be a mother. That pisses off the feminists to no end because they have spent several decades claiming that success only comes through their agenda and positions.
Sarah Palin is a mother and a politican. Hillary Clinton is a politician with a child. There is a significant difference.
highhopes on September 9, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Cap and trade, appeasement of the environmental left, functionally open borders, reckless disregard for free speech… McCain’s many open policy sores will remain a serious danger to Palin’s current position as the heir to Reagan, not only during the campaign (where it will be most immediately destructive) but for the whole of a McCain administration. If she’s party to his philandering with leftist causes, she’ll drop out of sight precipitously. I will certainly shake her off like a dream gone nightmare.
I only hope her heart and mind will compel her to be the Jefferson to McCain’s Adams, at least with respect to maintaining fidelity to her espoused conservative principles.
spmat on September 9, 2008 at 12:52 AM
P
Yep, and ladies like Margaret Hoover, Tammy Bruce, Michelle, Mary Katharine, Anne Coulter, Sarah Palin, Kay Baily Hutchinson, Julie Martz, Linda Klingle, Jodi Rell and Elisabeth Dole will lead the way.
We got no shortage of conservative women to carry the torch.
BacaDog on September 9, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Dang AP. You are so damn cynical, I’m starting to get the same reaction reading you as I do reading Dem blogs. I hope McCain / Palin win just so you can get out of your multi-year pessimistic funk.
JeffB. on September 9, 2008 at 1:30 AM
JeffB. on September 9, 2008 at 1:30 AM
Probably the intent.
And to weigh in on what GOV Palin should do after the defeatists lose the election for her: She should go back, finish out her term as governor, and then retire to her fishing business. Too many conservatives and Republicans don’t deserve her.
Tommygun on September 9, 2008 at 2:03 AM
Great! Now all those do-nothing RINO’s like Mel Martinez and Grassley and Graham et al, will be rubbing off their obnoxious bi-partisan, hands across the aisle, let all just get along taint on my lovely Sarah.
epluribusunum on September 9, 2008 at 2:34 AM
Is this a bait, Allah? You have re-packaged your regular pessimissm and wrapped it in a question so that rubes can fall for it? Sarah is going to the good old Observatory, period. Nowhere else. From there to the White House in four years.
promachus on September 9, 2008 at 2:42 AM
As I predicted… ; )
The congress isn’t necessarily lost to the Party of Defeat.
New Tone, meet Pit Bull. Let’s roll.
Halley on September 9, 2008 at 3:10 AM
Why would she want to become senator after being governor? Being senator doesn’t exactly let you do more, even though you get more national recognition.
Seixon on September 9, 2008 at 3:34 AM
Also, in all five states, Sarah Palin draws higher “Very Favorable” ratings than any other candidate.
Apparently, F*%k, yeah!” isn’t a box one can check.
jaleach on September 9, 2008 at 3:47 AM
As an Alaskan resident I am one the 80% satisfied with our Governor. I am afraid this Hockey Mom angle is getting played out. I would hope the McCain campaign might switch to the very reason she was chosen as VP in the first place; and that would be her reform accomplishments and her energy knowledge. I know we need something that people can relate to, but the very fact she is a mother that started out wanting to improve her family’s education system might work better. What mother out there doesn’t want their kids to have a better education? It might also provide a launching pad for a school voucher program.
lwssdd on September 9, 2008 at 3:56 AM
Seixon on September 9, 2008 at 3:34 AM
A lot of governors have done just that. Three in a stretch of four from my own great state of Missouri. It helped get John Ashcroft the Attorney Generalship.
Tommygun on September 9, 2008 at 5:18 AM
Governors are executives. Senators are all lip and a vote here and there. Reagan knew that. That’s good enough for me.
SKYFOX on September 9, 2008 at 6:12 AM
Allah:
I don’t think this lady is going away no matter what happens in November or what your pessimism meter tells you.
Terrye on September 9, 2008 at 6:48 AM
Sarah Palin…today’s Reagan.
mindhacker on September 9, 2008 at 7:03 AM
The Eagleton effect applies to Biden.The DNC has been having buyers remorse about Osama for months and now Osama is having buyers remorse over Biden.I would love to be a fly on the wall when Bill and Hillary are all alone rubbing their hands in glee as they look forward to 2012.The Ones arrogance ,and his racist wifes hatred of Hillary has cost him the presidency!We really dodged a bullet by him not picking her,because it would have been a winning ticket,and MORE IMPORTANTLY we wouldnt have Sarah.Lets stay strong and fight to the end for our countries future.SEMPER FI[ALWAYS FAITHFUL]
Marines for Mccain on September 9, 2008 at 8:41 AM
At the risk of repeating a comment I made on this point last week, I think that Gov. Palin, since she will be spending time in Pennsylvania anyway, ought to give some time to the guy running against Murtha. She is a mom of a soldier, the Republican is a veteran and Murtha sold out the Haditha marines…she could make some strong points about who she would rather have watching her son’s back.
Further…she fought against earmarks, and Murtha is a notorious earmark parasite. I think she’s a perfect fit, and maybe Murtha could be displaced.
Blaise on September 9, 2008 at 12:05 PM
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