Palin: We shouldn’t pull out of Michigan
posted at 2:35 pm on October 3, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Parts one and two of a day-long series with Carl Cameron. I admire her pluck but there’s no sense spending her precious time on a lost cause, which Michigan appears to be. If the ‘Cuda wants to commune with blue-collar voters and start a little Palinmania brushfire, the place to do it is Ohio or Minnesota.
Exit question: Hey, how about a Malkin/Palin interview? It can happen if you only wish it.
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I hope she continues to hone her communication skills, maybe slow down her speech pattern and modulate her voice. In upcoming interviews she needs to sound centered, strong, and prove she has a deep understanding of issues….she’s doing great, needs to continue!
We need some ads with just her facing the camera, stating the case for the McCain/Palin ticket.
nyrofan on October 3, 2008 at 3:35 PM
echosyst on October 3, 2008 at 3:31 PM
You’re right, I don’t know anything about Michigan but I sure hate to give up. And I think Dr. Cwac Cwac has a good point also. What’s a day and other’s will notice.
Cindy Munford on October 3, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Actually, I was channeling Chevy Chase.
fossten on October 3, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Normally, I’d jump on that idea. Here though is a state with possibilities, imho. Union worker Todd, no show Obama in primaries, criminal convictions in Detroit. Even if she can’t flip the state, she can put pressure on Obama, and the more she’s out there, the better it is for the ticket.
If she’s in Michigan talking about why Obama = economic epic fail, she’s doing what McCain won’t and she wouldn’t need to in a red state. Michigan or Pennsylvania or Colorado. Let her get it done.
Spirit of 1776 on October 3, 2008 at 3:36 PM
I didn’t watch the videos here but saw earlier on TV that she has come up with three SCOTUS cases with which she disagrees: Kennedy v. Louisiana, Kelo v. New London, and Exxon Valdez v. Alaska.
And FYI she’s coming to North Carolina (Greenville) for the first time next Tuesday
Dudley Smith on October 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
They’ve been destroyed by Democrats precisely because messages don’t get through.
DarkCurrent on October 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Yep. I’m in the greener pasture of Indiana. Had to flee the sane side of the state (westside, y’all) because of crap business policy that drove Pfizer out of Michigan. The grass is pretty green (along with the corner) in Indiana.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on October 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Here’s the problem.
These kind of battles need to be fought before an election year.
Democrats are doing well in CO, NM, VA because in off years, they work these states and get people into office and get activists on the ground.
Republicans do not do this. They do not go into blue states and try and get people on their side. Republicans have openings in MI to do this, get people up there and repeat over and over again that Democrats run the state. Democrats control the state. And it’s a disaster. Say that Republicans can fix it – give them a chance.
But they don’t. Maybe, with a good face on the party (Palin) who can raise a lot of money and get people involved, it can happen. But fighting this in an election year is an uphill battle and a losing one.
See, Republicans lack a coherent national strategy. All the time, you’ll democrat activists and talking heads disputing things republicans say, complaining about republicans. You never see the same – on the local level – republicans doing this to democrats. Until they wisen up and understand that, Republicans will fair worse and worse.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
So that J-Mac can continue to boast about his bipartisan creds.
ManlyRash on October 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Did you see that interview with the ex-soviet propaganda operative? Three generations of people who believe in socialism to the point that their faith protects them from fact. It’s not their (Democrats, unions, etc) that they are loosing jobs, it is the unfairness of everyone else. They wanted the minimum wage hike to protect them from competition in low-minimum wage states.
Count to 10 on October 3, 2008 at 3:37 PM
I think Teh One has pulled up tent stakes in Georgia. Any confirmation in that?
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on October 3, 2008 at 3:38 PM
McCain, rather than allowing his arm to be twisted AGAIN, may decide to allow Palin to handle Michigan since there’s nothing to lose really by letting her try, and everything to gain by letting her try and finding that Michigan responds positively to Palin.
Deus ex machina: Fortiter in re, suaviter in modo.
maverick muse on October 3, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Yeppers.
Democrat voters seem to be content in their misery. And that’s the problem. They don’t aspire for more than whatever meager existence they can eek out.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Well, Sarah already has the “ruby slippers.”
MM is sharp, but I don’t think that an interview with her adds much in terms of reaching out to new voters.
Has McCain been on Imus in the Morning lately? I think Imus reaches a good demographic — western “independents” — and he is a McCain supporter. I also watched him flip from ridiculing the Palin pick to being very pro-Palin after the convention. A light went off in his head and he realized that she was his type of person.
I don’t watch Imus regularly (he’s on too early for me) but back in the day (before he moved to RFDTV) I recall that he was actually a pretty good interviewer.
Y-not on October 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Ah, that was just Campaign Snarl. He’s always been a bit of an arse.
Tennman on October 3, 2008 at 3:40 PM
You know who else they do that to? Answer: Black people.
Abby Adams on October 3, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Republicans – conservatives, to be more precise – don’t dream of controlling other peoples’ lives and don’t worship the state or practice politics as their religion. Democrats – liberals, to be more precise – do.
For this reason, Republicans will always be at a disadvantage in the political arena – especially when you have a general population that is becoming stupider with each passing year.
ManlyRash on October 3, 2008 at 3:41 PM
I don’t disagree. Always at the disadvantage; but imagine if the republicans wisened up and had people everywhere repeating the mantra (with facts to back it up) that government created the economic downturn, the high unemployment, caused this business to go under, etc etc etc. and that it’s not the answer – it’s the problem.
Palin proves this point perfectly. People don’t like government. They don’t want it in their life. For the most part. Speak to them and it’s a winner.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2008 at 3:43 PM
I’ve been reading a book filled with various interesting presidential stories.
One story was about the 1888 presidential election of Dem. Grover Cleveland vs Rep. Benjamin Harrison.
The Republican’s had a speaker’s bureau that drafted the party’s most popular orators and sent them on tours across the country. This effort is largely credited with helping Harrison defeat the incumbent Cleveland.
This seems like something that Republicans should consider doing in a more organized fashion. Find and cultivate talented conservative orators. Then, coordinate where they go during election times. The P and VP candidates can only cover so much ground. We need people (on and off season) going around the country making the conservative case.
On a side note, the man in charge of this called his speakers “Spellbinders” because they held the audiences attention as if they had cast a spell on the people listening. This is where that term originated.
JadeNYU on October 3, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Also, yes this is true. But you still have to explain it to people. You just can’t go out there assuming people agree with you. Get in the news cycles. Explain why things happen – why jobs are lost, why they go overseas.
Republicans are not good at playing the game and they need to get better at it.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Seriously. It’s great that Palin did well last night, especially for her. She probably kept McCain’s head above water through the weekend, and she likely notched a spot for herself in future national politics.
But for 2008, so what? I don’t know why it just dawned on me, but I see exactly what McCain’s strategy is: He’s playing the presidential race so that he’ll be sure that he doesn’t lose his seat in the Senate. It explains everything.
BuckeyeSam on October 3, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Yeah, dems, keep harping on her accent and the whole “nucular” thing and we’ll remind everyone that their Speaker of the House doesn’t know what a fossil fuel is.
Y-not on October 3, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Damnit! Sarahcuda was in Dallas and I was slackin’ at the movies?!?!
//smacks self in forehead. Hard.
techno_barbarian on October 3, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Definitely, they should. But not just in election years. In off years as well. Get republicans on the cameras in local news organizations, talking about local issues and how less government helps them and how more government hurts.
1 or 2 thousand people doing this all over the country would work wonders. It’s not a lot of people, really. R’s just need to recruit them, pay them, and get them moving.
People naturally gravitate towards less government, less intrusion and lower taxes on every level. Speak to it.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Is Romney still sulking? Get him out to Michigan and stump for McCain-Palin. Listen, the chances of Mac-Pali winning are certainly less than 50% right now. If Mac wins, he may only serve one term. Win or lose, Romney would do himself an enormous service by stumping actively. Not only that, Romney would do the country a lot of good explaining the economic mess we are in and why the McCain-Palin approach is far better than Obama-Biden.
Romney could help a lot in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Nevada. And Mac should strongly consider him as Secretary of Treasury (heck he will get 700 billion to play with, which is a heck of a lot of power if they win).
Mr. Joe on October 3, 2008 at 3:49 PM
MM likes Palin fine. She and AP just don’t like McCain, and they let that move them toward almost compulsive demoralizing of the campaign. Yes, self-defeating.
Tommygun on October 3, 2008 at 3:55 PM
I get it, but my premise was based on internal polling. Up to now the polling has been close.
I am not arguing that you are not correct, I am saying if there is other information that we are not privy to, if it means Mich. could be a possible, or at least push Obama to think so, then it may be worth the couple of days.
Ig she and family flies up there and they have several events with 20-30,000 people, that makes a big statement to the rest of the voting blue collar world.
Also she is saying “these are my people, I won’t let them down” and I think Mich. would respond…if not, they lose two valuable days, but not a waste of effort…if internals show it is possible to move votes.
right2bright on October 3, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Pulling out of Michigan is curious. I live in Southern California and I’m going to a Palin Victory rally Saturday not far from where I live.
Which state is more “blue”? California or Michigan?
kurtzz3 on October 3, 2008 at 3:58 PM
She is GREAT. Doesn’t know the meaning of losing until the game is over. A woman after my own heart!
McCain and campaign – and for that matter,those in the GOP leadership – are you taking notes? You can learn a lot from Sarah.
She is the embodiement of the bold American spirit.
Marybeth on October 3, 2008 at 3:59 PM
CA, one of the bluest…
right2bright on October 3, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Unfortunately her time is very valuable and Ohio is much more dire a battlefield. Send her to the land of Lincoln and hope ACORN doesn’t get their way.
Browncoatone on October 3, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Don’t think for a minute this isn’t planned. If she goes up, it will be a planned event, testing the waters.
My contention was always after the debate, they would unleash her and go after the blue collar vote.
right2bright on October 3, 2008 at 4:01 PM
FIFY
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on October 3, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Uh, misleadng headline there. Carl Cameron ain’t the brightest bulb in the knife drawer sometimes. (Mixed metaphor intentional.) She doesn’t say they “shouldn’t” pull out of MI. But then, saying it your way doesn’t undermine McCain enough.
AP must be proud.
Tommygun on October 3, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Actually my question was rhetorical. Why stick around the left coast and abandon Michigan where Tod and his Steel Worker Union affiliation would make a big impact.
kurtzz3 on October 3, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Oh, puke. Naomi Wolfe is on Medved. Why give that loon publicity?
Blake on October 3, 2008 at 4:08 PM
$$$ in California. But I don’t disagree with your other point.
Y-not on October 3, 2008 at 4:12 PM
I’m in Michigan. I’ve stated this time and again. The I-75 corridor that runs from Detroit through Pontiac, Flint and ends in Saginaw controls every election in Michigan and it is very hard left.
Michigan was lost years ago, not just this cycle.
swami on October 3, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I am from Michigan. Detroit cannot carry Michigan. It requires outstate and suburban votes. I live in a depressed area with the highest unemployment. Romney got his biggest primary win in Michigan where his dad was a popular trusted GOP Governor.
Michigan tends to alternate between DEM and GOP at the top, as hard times destroy trust
The Democratic Club is the headquarters of my town but before the primaries I heard twenty something hardhats discussing all the candidates. Quote “Romney will bring the jobs back”
They loved Romney for his optimism about our state. When McCain was asked about jobs going overseas he made a stupid remark that those jobs are never coming back.
Reporters ran to Romney to stir up trouble and a calm, self assured Romney answered, Of course they can come back!
The difference was optimism, and a confidence in the people of our State. It came out as respect. Romney said he would fight for us.
That is all it took. It sounded great when I heard it. There are quitters and naysayers. Then there are fighters who do not give up. Only fighters are winners.
Palin should stake out Michigan. She will clean their clocks. Michigan is dying for someone to say: you are not dead!
She should do what she suggested. Go to the factories and machine shops. Forget the money dinners at the big hotels. Ditch the keepers in the Georgetown clothes
The DEMs have no credibility on the economy in Michigan since Michigan has been DEM dominated with the ineffective Governor Granhom who has been promising an uptick for too long while she pulls out the same idiot programs to revive our economy with Windmills and green technology.
Michigan is one of hot three midwest states of which Obama must win two
Palin is exactly what could get McCain Michigan. She is needed now to build an image similar to Romney’s. They should pair her with Romney and make a sweep and let the people know We Can Turn this State Around
If anyone can dig the McCain image out of his Bill Kristol/Fred Barnes web it is Palin and Romney.
What if someone came to Michigan and told the people they were loved, not despised?
Come on Palin. You can stay at my house. You too Romney. You are not too arrogant to give up
entagor on October 3, 2008 at 4:15 PM
If I were able the main question I would ask in Michigan is, “Do you want the same policies that put Michigan in such dire financial straits to put the entire USA in those same bad times?” Because there is little difference, except Michigan’s liberal policies are to the right of Obama’s.
jukin on October 3, 2008 at 4:19 PM
If only there was some prominent Republican with ties to Michigan and good hair who could campaign there…..
Speedwagon82 on October 3, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Michigan will be muslim in two decades.
ex-Democrat on October 3, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Which state has more money to give to the RNC? California is a lost cause for now, but you can’t write it off forever.
Palin should go back to Michigan for one overriding reason: Because she wants to go there. Giving her her head, as they say in horseracing, even if it’s only a feint in terms of the campaign’s strategy, would reinforce a turning point/comeback/back on offense narrative with Palin’s forceful, optimistic, one-of-us appeals to the hopeless, downcast working classes as its focus. It would be a morale boost to an even greater extent than the news of the withdrawal, leaked ahead of the debate, was a morale deflation. It might also focus some attention on what the Democrats have done to the state.
If the polls move even a little, it might force Obama to play some defense in a state that his campaign dissed during the primaries and that Democrats would like to take for granted. If the feint produces unexpected breakthroughs, more resources could be rushed in. In the fantasy scenario, with Palin actually turning the state or making it close, it would be legendary for her personally. Otherwise, it’s back to smaller, theoretically more easily winnable states with little harm done.
CK MacLeod on October 3, 2008 at 4:34 PM
I’m still laughing even after cleaning myself. Thanks.
BuckeyeSam on October 3, 2008 at 4:35 PM
That’s a good point. I still favor Palin going to CA to get a huge crowd and make a killer speech. Not for CA votes, but for votes elsewhere. Show the country what kind of people support this campaign.
And that’s a good point about Michigan. Make a weekend of it; do a few rallies – if you can get 30,000 at them – and show the country that you are fighting for them.
lorien1973 on October 3, 2008 at 4:38 PM
BTW: Was anyone else surprised that Bob (phallic symbol) Herbert didn’t have a column in the NY Times today complaining that Palin purposely used the words tap, tapped, and tapping when talking about energy in a subliminal pornographic message to male viewers? Seriously, I thought for sure he’d hop right on that.
BuckeyeSam on October 3, 2008 at 4:41 PM
If McCain wants Michigan all he has to do is saying we’re getting rid of these stupid, stupid CAFE standards.
But he won’t.
ex-Democrat on October 3, 2008 at 4:42 PM
It is not a pretty sight to see, a dog with its tail between its legs
For a candidate to advertise he has give up on even one state is an image destroyer because it says this candidate is not going to represent this state if elected. This scares people in other states. Will this candidate quit on me too?
People assume if you do not value my vote, you will not represent my interests
Do it in private but keep the headquarters open and mail flyers. Too late now. That is why Palin is needed to make voters in Michigan think they have value
Ancient saying: to scare the monkey, kill the chicken. Pulling out of Michigan scared the monkey
The Michigan GOP is a small RINO clique. Give them trinkets to keep them away from Palin, or keep them in the background in all the photos. The last GOP candidate for Governor made a terrible ad using his (apparently) rich and privileged daughters who gushed about Dad while the public was suffering. It had a ‘Let them eat cake’ quality he could not understand from his cocoon
entagor on October 3, 2008 at 4:54 PM
SEND SARAH TO MICHIGAN!!!DAMMIT .. DONT GIVE UP ON US…!
DarianCounts on October 3, 2008 at 5:00 PM
If I could address Sen. McCain directly, I’d remind him that this lady has pulled his chestnuts out of the fire TWICE in just a few weeks. She wants to do this. Don’t you think she’s earned it?
kurtzz3 on October 3, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Right, I’m listening to him now. She’s saying that the Fed. Gov. has brought 14,000 crack Army troops to “walk our streets” with non-lethal weapons to maintain/take over the US to help keep Prez. Bush in power.
She said it was in the “Army Times”.
I did a search and found her “sources” right here.
Better than Bambi’s “Truth Squads”.
Over.
1GooDDaDDy on October 3, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Good point. The timing on that seemed bad to me additionally.
Spirit of 1776 on October 3, 2008 at 5:05 PM
I admire her pluck but there’s no sense spending her precious time on a lost cause
Allah you wouldn’t know how to fight for something if your life depended on it. You would most likely get in the fetal position and cry.
unseen on October 3, 2008 at 5:06 PM
As a wise man once said, “What a waste it is to lose one’s mind or not to have a mind.”
CK MacLeod on October 3, 2008 at 5:13 PM
She shows a genuine interest in America and the American worker.
God Bless Her.
madmonkphotog on October 3, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Sarah Palin is wonderful. She did an outstanding job last night in the debates. With a few years of politics under her belt as VP she is going to be unstoppable in her quest for the presidency.
UnEasyRider on October 3, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Oh please. If McCain has a shot in the very liberal state of Minnesota, then he certainly has a shot in Michigan.
SoulGlo on October 3, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Isn’t western Michigan and the U P where they can get a landslide GOTV?
SouthernGent on October 3, 2008 at 6:31 PM
First McCain pulls out of Michigan, now the state department doesn’t think it would be a step up for Iraqi refugees?
Detroit News is there
Micheal on October 3, 2008 at 6:46 PM
This is looking more likely that Sarah just put an act on Katie Couric’s show to lower expectations. Great game, Sarah!
promachus on October 4, 2008 at 1:13 AM
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