Palin: “If I cost John McCain even one vote then I am sorry about that”
posted at 2:20 pm on November 5, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Here’s my pessimism post from the day she was announced; I think it held up well. She did cost McCain one vote — namely, Dennis Hopper’s — but she surely didn’t cost him 100 EVs, which it turns out is what he would have needed to win. Onward and upward, then, for the ‘Cuda. Anyone who can draw a crowd the way she does has a future nationally, but Fey plus the Couric and Gibson interviews leaves her with image repair to do among the indies she’d have to win to be president. The way forward, as I see it:
1. Don’t run for Senate. Run for governor again.
2. Study. The left will be expecting doltishness in every policy interview she gives going forward. Each one is an opportunity to surprise them.
3. Embrace bipartisanship. The ‘Cuda has the base in her pocket, thanks partly to her record, partly to her personal charm, and partly to her Jacksonian moose-hunter persona. I’m half convinced that if she came out for immediate and unconditional amnesty tomorrow, she’d flip 50 percent of conservatives instantly on the issue. Since there’s nothing she can do to alienate them, forget about them and concentrate on the center. She has a record of working with Dems in Alaska; that’s been complicated by her attacks on The One, but she’s got nothing but time to put it back together.
4. Keep a high national profile. A fundraiser here, a TV appearance there, periodic conference calls with the staff of the Weekly Standard, and she’s in business. Some sort of charitable initiative, ideally one that takes her overseas, would also be useful.
And there you have it. Foolproof, unless the sniping from McCain aides (and possibly McCain himself) destroys her reputation — which it won’t, per point 3. Exit question poll: Romney 33, Huckabee 20, Palin 18.
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Beauty, Grace, Dignity, Excellence, and Elegance.
singlemalt_18 on November 5, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Palin’s boosters do her a disservice by blaming McCain entirely for the bad rollout. She could have used her brain and realized that she wasn’t ready to talk to liberal journalists who were certainly going to ask gotcha questions about foreign policy yet.
Speedwagon82 on November 5, 2008 at 2:23 PM
And if Oprah NOW invites you to come on her show, tell her to shove it where the sun shines not!
Even better, tell it right to her face!
pilamaye on November 5, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Romney and Huckabee lead to repeat of 2008. We need to ditch those RINOs. Palin and/or Jindal 2012.
bill30097 on November 5, 2008 at 2:24 PM
True, but tough to control the hand that just tapped you for VP.
Who the hell are the 20% for Huck? Go Palin.
Pasalubong on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
I love Sarah Palin. She rose too fast as per the Peter Principle. She will be a terrific Governor and US Senator for many years to come.
I love Sarah, and her family, and everything about her. No, McCain shouldn’t have picked her. There was nothing she could have done to close the gender gap. Women just wouldn’t vote for a woman. It was a helluva tough race anyway. Americans have been dying to vote for a black president for many years, and finally one that seemed to them to be minimally qualified showed up.
indythinker on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
without Palin, after the Bailout Conservatives would’ve really left mcCain in big numbers. Last night would’ve been a blood bath, more then 10 points and Bob Barr would’ve done alot better.
She was a plus on that factor alone, the idea we ever had a great shot at winning is crazy, however we had one after the Palin pick until the Financial Crisis hit.
in 4 yrs nobody will remember the Couric or Gibson hack job
jp on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
I love Sarah Palin. I wasn’t excited about McCain but he had my support … and then came Sarah. She truly was the best thing about this election. I hope we will be seeing lots more of her! (And that she handles interviews better next time!) :o)
GOPG8R on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
In what sense?
Bigger government? Tried. Failed. Sucks. People hate big government republicans.
People want to be left alone by washington – fiscally and socially. She needs to appeal to that.
lorien1973 on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Sarah, you’re just getting started. However, you’ve got the right attitude. Focus on the next day.
MadisonConservative on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
I saw that “embrace bipartisanship” did a double-take and then scrolled up to see the byline. Sure enough – AllahPundit.
Guess some people never learn.
jbarkley on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Holy hell that woman is dumb! She does the Party no favors.
Vernon Hardapple on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Vote Huckabee. Cuz democrats controlling our lives are not bad enough. Republicans can do it too.
lorien1973 on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
The Fey, Couric and Gibson interviews helped her. No press is bad press. Now she has name recognition that she didn’t have 10 weeks ago (because of those interviews).
I disagree wholeheartedly with this:
if she does that, she won’t be different than McCain (loser).
We need someone to stand up to ALL of DC and say STOP WASTING OUR MONEY! You can’t do that being ‘bipartisan’. Being ‘bipartisan’ means voting for stuff because it looks good for the people trying to be elected – no matter the cost because they don’t have to pay for it.
We need a SPENDING FREEZE in Congress. Come on McCain, you are still in the senate, you can still work on the spending freeze (if you meant it).
She doesn’t need to be a partisan hack, but ‘bipartisan’ would be a disaster. I’d prefer her to be independent than ‘bipartisan’.
ThackerAgency on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
I hate to say this, but I’ll take Huckabee over Romney.
I just feel there is more upside with Huckabee.
However–it won’t be either Romney nor Huck in 2012. Palin will still be governor (as per AP’s post), and if the GOP is successful, she will be Sec. of Interior.
It’s Jindal time, baby. Bright, accomplished, can reach out to Evangelicals and Catholics.
Jindal/Pence ‘12.
PimFortuynsGhost on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Again I think that she is better suited to be RNC chair than running for major office.
The Alaska governor’s office didnt help her rep with the voters and staying there puts her far out of the limelight.
And of course the Mitt people are chomping at the bit to get started they never were that on board with McCain and Palin.
William Amos on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
How about carrying on her work for special needs kids?
My biggest regret about the entire campaign was that it did not hit on this as a theme for her immediately. I believe it would have disarmed many critics and made it much harder to caricature her. Some her best speeches were late in the campaign when she emphasized this work and waved to the kids and parents in the crowd.
Nothing could humanize conservatives more to suburban moms and younger voters than to see Gov. Palin carrying on as a national advocate for these kids. And it just might have a bonus impact of getting young people to think more seriously about abortion.
rockmom on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Got a problem with whole “she should repair her relationships with the democrats, because she attacked Obama.” Thats a Joke right. She got attacked visciously by the Dems and the media,like no one ever before, and she has to repair her relationship with the dems?? Wow the GOP is goin down the crapper.
MDWNJ on November 5, 2008 at 2:26 PM
Weird. I think McCain and his mixed message is more responsible for this loss than she is. Who can enthusiastically get behind a guy who is yelling at you to fight with him, then hands you a nerf bat?
capitalist piglet on November 5, 2008 at 2:27 PM
jbarkley on November 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
did the same thing. thought the same thing. :o)
GOPG8R on November 5, 2008 at 2:27 PM
I don’t like reading about her even thinking that she cost this campaign the election. I still love her and hope to see her on the stage again SOON!
XWing5 on November 5, 2008 at 2:27 PM
3. Embrace bipartisanship.
How well did that work out for McCain, AP?
I don’t recall Reagan ever trying to be bipartisan.
GT on November 5, 2008 at 2:27 PM
She’s also gotta develop some of Maggie Thatcher’s tough-as-nails mindset. Be less of a people-pleaser. More of a Reagan visionary.
John the Libertarian on November 5, 2008 at 2:27 PM
I am done with the republican party and I do like Palin and she did not cost Mac any votes, he cost himself votes for not being more concervitive and hitting hard on all issues and only playing softball on many others. I will switch to another party until the republicans can come back to being conservitive, mid-center and to the right, say 80%++.
foxone on November 5, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Beauty, Grace, Dignity, Excellence, and Elegance.
singlemalt_18 on November 5, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Says it all.
Bruno Strozek on November 5, 2008 at 2:28 PM
what about evangelical catholics?
ThackerAgency on November 5, 2008 at 2:28 PM
She has nothing to apologize for. He would have lost much worse without her.
Valiant on November 5, 2008 at 2:28 PM
If only the press was has hard on Obama as they were on Palin, we would not be writing an obituary on America today.
I seriously do believe Barack Obama will change America. I believe he will sell us out to our enemies. He will let Putin into the Baltics. He will let Ahmadenijad and the Mullahs annex Iraq and threaten israel. He will let Syria back into Lebanon (anyone remember the Cedar Revolution?). He will allow Pakistan and India to ramp up their war. he won’t prevent China takeover of Taiwan. He will oversee 12% unemployment rates and high inflation rates.
Gingrich needs to get out now and start running for President in 2012 and gin up the ground game for 2010.
Gingrich is our savior.
James on November 5, 2008 at 2:28 PM
Carl Cameron just revealing major animosity between McCain staff and Palin. He even revealed that one McCain staffer had been fired after it was revealed he or she was the source of a damaging leak to Palin, but McCain (sigh) intervened and kept the staffer on.
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 2:28 PM
The best thing that Sarah can do to stay in the spotlight for the conservatives is to form a PAC and raise money for conservative candidates in the 2010 race.
I also agree that she should run for governor again. Not the Senate, Governor!
GuitarPlayer52 on November 5, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Like, I know it’s kinda your blog site and all that, but it’s the moronic grasping for bipartisanship that castrated McCain. Every time a conservative or moderate “reaches across the aisle”, he or she draws back a bloody stump!
AubieJon on November 5, 2008 at 2:29 PM
She dragged his dumb as over the finish line. It would have been embarassing last night without her…uh, wait.
Still, McCain was always the wrong man at the wrong time. Period.
Start again.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 2:29 PM
Palin has energized my interest in the Republican party and my college aged nieces and their friends were also inspired by her. I’d quit my job and work for her next campaign. Heck, I’m thinking about quitting my job anyway and waiting for my free Obamacheques.
Rockygold on November 5, 2008 at 2:29 PM
People tend to forget we fought the Revolutionary War in defense of American conservatism: individual freedom, individual responsibility. It is a REVOLUTIONARY IDEOLOGY that threatens all antiquated ideologies of despotism, totalitarianism… and American liberalism.
John the Libertarian on November 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Why do people like this woman? Can we please go back to the party of being rich, elite intelligent people?
therightwinger on November 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
If nothing changes in their achievements in public office between now and 2011, I’d say none of the above. I’d rather vote for Boehner or Cantor.
Romney will have to do something significant in government between now and 2011 to be a viable candidate. (I’m not criticizing what he’s done in the past, just saying he needs to build on that in public service.)
Huckabee blows. He is largely responsible for the primary mess, that led to a candidate running with a fractured party. Too many Republicans despise him for him to be a strong candidate.
Right now, Palin is not ready to be the top of the ticket, but if she is re-elected as governor, she would be a viable candidate.
Y-not on November 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Don’t fret, Sarah, John McCain cost John McCain a lot more votes than you ever could have.
Kafir on November 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
That post is vindicated, Allahpundit.
RushBaby on November 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Thank you. Embracing bipartisanship is like saying, take this poison and see if you like the taste.
No more compassionate conservatism. Stand up for your conservative values and rebuild.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I think she was a wonderful pick. I think had the media and everyone not wanted “hope and change” so badly that they would have picked Hitler as President if he were running, she would be our first chick VP. But people were so ready for Obama that it doesn’t matter about increased taxes, increased corruption (he’s from Chi-town, what else can you expect), and civilian security force.
I hope Jindal runs in 2012. He’s my politics crush.
mjk on November 5, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Republicans must be stupid. If it’s Romney, expect many of us to not vote for the GOP once again.
MedSchoolCatholic on November 5, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Please, stop with the calls for “bipartisanship”.
PBoilermaker on November 5, 2008 at 2:31 PM
DOES NOT COMPUTE
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 5, 2008 at 2:31 PM
She should run for senate. I wouldnt vote for her if she was running for President on the republican ticket, and either would a majority of Americans. Unless of course, she somehow miraculously loses that accent and becomes ridiculously informed and does some AMAZING interviews where she can actually answer a damn simple question. As of today, she is a national joke to a majority of Americans.
muyoso on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Duncan Hunter, Michael Steele, Mike Pence, Rick Santorum, Jim DeMint….. these are the Conservatives we need. That’s just a start.
MNDavenotPC on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Grue, have you heard from Manly?
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
It didn’t work for W. either…
singlemalt_18 on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Plus, everyone was going to vote for colour of skin this election. Maybe next election, they’ll vote for the uterus??? Seriously, sexism totally plays a role. Obama’s a foreign policy moron and Biden is too, didn’t seem to stop them.
mjk on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
I’m going to assume this is sarcasm unless you say otherwise.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
She’d eat your lunch, jackass. She drew tens of thousands to her rallies and enjoys 80%+ support as governor. Biden drew flies in comparison, and made more gaffes than we can count.
People like you tell me all I need to know about the state of education in America.
Richard Romano on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Better ideas
1) People like me may see her as the future of America, but maybe she’d just like to be a governer and a mother. She’s earned the right to make either decision.
2) now if she wants to go for it.. let Stevens get elected, and then resign, she shuffles herself to the senate in his place.
And she’s in the dem’s and the media’s face every single day – while fighting for good in the senate.
–
Problem: would you wish this role on your worst enemy? NO? if so, how do we square thinking this might be a good idea with liking her?
Paul Murphy on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
I VOTED FOR McCAIN BECAUSE OF GOV PALIN!!!
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8691/palinjindalzq3.jpg
christene on November 5, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Allah have you learned NOTHING?
. Embrace bipartisanship. The ‘Cuda has the base in her pocket, thanks partly to her record, partly to her personal charm, and partly to her Jacksonian moose-hunter persona. I’m half convinced that if she came out for immediate and unconditional amnesty tomorrow, she’d flip 50 percent of conservatives instantly on the issue. Since there’s nothing she can do to alienate them, forget about them and concentrate on the center. She has a record of working with Dems in Alaska; that’s been complicated by her attacks on The One, but she’s got nothing but time to put it back together.
this is what cost us the election. Mccain was the MOST bipartisian REP ever. He lost the moderates and the independents.
Palin needs to educate America on conservative vaules. She needs to run agains tthe liberal crap that coming down the road.
unseen on November 5, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Who do you think? Evangelicals.
aero on November 5, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Romney has not chance in hell, if the republicans nominate him he will get killed by the press and Obama’s machine. Anoher rich white guy, I can hear it now.
KBird on November 5, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Idotic scum Dem troll alert
bill30097 on November 5, 2008 at 2:33 PM
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone suggest that the Democrats “embrace bipartisanship”, come to think of it.
capitalist piglet on November 5, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Um, yes, thanks to the unprofessional, hots for 0bama, lib media such as Couric and Gibson she does have to repair her first bad impression.
4shoes on November 5, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Screw the bipartisanship. It got us nothing. Stick to first principles. Principles and integrity are the antidote to the cult of Obama.
McCain lost because he was McCain. The NY Times endorsed him. Why do you think so many republicans stayed home?
Iblis on November 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
We need more partisanship in the name of conservatism.
Darksean on November 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
I love Newt but he’s a short, mousy little man who told his wife he wanted a divorce while she lay in her hospital bed. Can’t we find some nice conservatives? You know, like Palin.
Kafir on November 5, 2008 at 2:34 PM
McCain’s snark reprinted in the Guardian shows there is no place in the new GOP for bipartisanship. Reagan was the real deal, and his 11th commandment was the best advice he could give the party. I respected McCain in 2000 and wish he were the nominee and President then. I voted for him this time. I have lost a lot of respect for him after this campaign. I’ll never vote for Romney, if he ever tries to run again. These turncoats do nothing for restoring the Republican credibility, and the party should look to new leadership and its future. Sarah Palin has a future. I agree with AP that she should run as Governor again.
chunderroad on November 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
To the Dems bipartisanship always means doing what they want and that’s not a good idea.
I seriously doubt that Palin could flip 50% conservatives instantly on amnesty. We like her and she energized us, but we’re not that kind of personality cultists.
Romney’s and Huckabee’s day is done.
Jindal, Palin and others will be the new face of the GOP.
INC on November 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
Considering how badly the press chopped up her interveiws to give stunted answers have to wonder what else she could have done ?
William Amos on November 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
I have a job where I have to look up things 20 times a day. For some reason, I’ve been told I’m intelligent.
mymanpotsandpans on November 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
The fact that 20% believe Huckabee should be the next GOP leader tells me that the GOP really really has lost its way…
There is no longer a major conservative party in this country. It’s now between the socialists and the pro-war socialists.
MedSchoolCatholic on November 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
McCain didn’t lose because he was too bipartisan. He lost because he was too old, too weird, too economically clueless, and too nice to Obama.
Speedwagon82 on November 5, 2008 at 2:35 PM
imagine huckabee with money behind him, he has a serious shot potentially. and a TV show now.
i prefer Palin though
jp on November 5, 2008 at 2:36 PM
She was chomping on the bit to attack, he was chomping on the bit to talk about earmarks and how much he admired Obama. Now she’s free of them. Go Palin– go all out, go whole hog. See ya in ‘12.
Pasalubong on November 5, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Gov. Palin is the only reason McCain came within shouting distance of Obama.
Gov. Palin is one of the best things to happen to the Republican party in a long, long time…
…and I, for one, look forward to an unfettered and unrestrained Gov. Palin running for president in 2012.
Religious_Zealot on November 5, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Sarah is a decent person. She will learn from this experience and come back from it. I still believe she will be POTUS one day.
technopeasant on November 5, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Please understand that the Palin trashing is probably coming from the others who want to win the nomination in 2012. They want to trash palin to increase their chances.
Im looking at you Mitt.
William Amos on November 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Huckabee has a weekly talk show with an audience and a band and everything. You think he’d be satisfied. I shudder to think come February 2009 he’s going to New Hampshire or Iowa to re-snuggle with the xxxxxs who couldn’t carry their state for the Republicans. Want change? Change that idiot system where our candidate is chosen after 2-3 yahoos have voted.
Marcus on November 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Both Palin and Obama rose too fast, only the former got flack for it.
Let Obama make his errors while attending his on-job-training scheme and let Palin build herself up as a clear independent alternative in 2012. I look forward to see her take on Obama in four years time.
NORUK on November 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Yeah, and Palin was the problem.
Sorry, McCain was not conservative. He was headed for a 49-state loss if it were not for Palin.
Enoxo on November 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Excellent! As I said in another thread, I hope more and more Sarah vs. McCain stuff comes out. The more they suggest that she was never fully “with” McCain, butted heads with him and his staff, had a mind of her own, and was willing to stand up for herself, the better. Hasten the divorce from McCain’s losing legacy – it’s the only chance she has to establish her own brand and quickly.
aero on November 5, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Ditch the RINOS. Ditch the social conservative wackos.
In with the libertarians.
If you want social conservatism, go hang with the black Obama supporting church goers.
We need a LIBERTARIAN Republicanism: budget cutting, pork busting, second amendment loving, War on Drug eliminating libertarianism.
mylegsareswollen on November 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I’ve already ordered my Palin 2012 bumper sticker.
vcferlita on November 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Palin didn’t do herself any favors. I do think she was underprepared for the campaign season, both on substance and style. However, I think Team McCain botched her rollout in the following ways:
1. They should have been building her brand since early summer… Planting stories here, there, and everywhere. A few leaks here, a few leaks there. They should have also put her on notice that she was on the short list and told her to start boning up on major policy issues and had her take some media training.
2. They had no message control for her roll-out. The press coverage on her went savagely negative within 12 hours of her roll-out, and it forced McCain totally off message and put them on the defensive immediately.
3. Their choice for media interviews with her was very poor.
Final comment:
I have seen several examples in the press of sniping by McCain aides against Palin. McCain owes a duty to the party and to Palin to publicly condemn that kind of sniping and to continue to stand by his pick.
Outlander on November 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
I wish I could show the grace under pressure that Sarah has, so well, displayed, during this, the McCain/Palin campaign.
huckleberryfriend on November 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
If Romney wants to run again, I suggest he sell all his houses but one and donate the money to charity.
Speedwagon82 on November 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
WOW! What class! I love this lady! Palin-Romney ‘12 please. Or even reversed would be great.
OneGyT on November 5, 2008 at 2:38 PM
Anyone that claims she hurt McCain is trying to be hurtful.
People that I know who could care less about voting got out just to support her. I’m glad to find out that there are wonderful people like this willing to get slimed in politics and serve.
Hening on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
it is John McCain that should be apologizing to Sarah Palin for being a wimp his ENTIRE campaign. and Huckabee is a fat a-hole. yes, despite losing all that weight, he is still a hog.
Nuge em on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Good joke.
Helloyawl on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Without her on the ticket McCain would have gotten several million less votes. She fired up the base and they went out and voted for her not McCain. The thought that she was bad for the ticket is laughable at best. Some Repubs may have held that view but the Dems and the MSM certainly did not.
patrick neid on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Sarah Palin is the new face of the Republican Party. She can count with my vote at any time.
Cuban4McCain on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Yep, I have an email from him, just checked:
Well, there it is, for anyone interested.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
I wish he hadn’t made that stupid bet. Missing his wit.
txsurveyor on November 5, 2008 at 2:39 PM
I’ve wondered that too. I almost think if you are a Republican, you have to learn a style of speech in answering questions that cannot be distorted or edited to make you look like you don’t know what you’re talking about. Her answer about Russia should have been about maritime borders only (the part that ended up in the circular file), and not what became the meme.
It’s like a damned game. Ugh.
That said, I really like her. I think her part of the campaign was a bright spot, and I am grateful for her part in it.
capitalist piglet on November 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Palin will get hammered if she remains a Governor.
The way to beat the Dems is by taking away their only perceived strength – the economy.
If you take away the economy, they have nothing.
She can hammer the Dems on the economy every day from the Senate floor.
faraway on November 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Embrace Bipartisanship?
AP, you need to talk to MM. This is precisely why we lost. Lead as a conservative.
You don’t see the far left embracing anything but their values, goals, ideals and policies. You don’t see bipartisanship from them.
That is why they won. Conviction.
It is a war. You either win or lose, and never play to draw. Conservatism wins every time and Palin brought 10M votes or else it would have been a landslide. We were feckless once. Never again. Look at the gay ballot initiative in CA. It stood on its own and won on its own.
Starlink on November 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Talk to the Democrats about that system. Obama managed to beat Hillary for the nomination despite losing every single big state except for Illinois, simply by having his supporters bully people in the primaries.
Outlander on November 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Bipartisanship – because acting like democrats has worked so well for NE republicans.
lorien1973 on November 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
The way McCain embraced Hispanics and they rushed out to vote for him ?
You cant pander to the left they dont want a handout they want the whole arm.
William Amos on November 5, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Unbelievable that they are still trying to destroy her. This is disgusting.
Dritanian on November 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Manly, come home.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
No Huckabee or Romney in 2012!!! We have time to look at our options people.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Embracing bipartisanship is like giving a bear hug to saguarro cactus. the only thing is you get stuck in a different place.
thomasaur on November 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Palin wasn’t the problem. She was McCain’s only hope of infusing a microbe of excitement into what was otherwise the most poorly conceived, miserably executed, and half-heartedly fought campaign in memory. All centered around the most poorly-packaged job of the most ineffective candidate in our lifetime.
Bob Dole… you’re off the hook.
The Democrats unveiled the most charismatic, engaging, and visionary leader since John F. Kennedy; the GOP responded with the most uninspiring, bumbling, and nominee since Bob Dole. The parallels with the 1996 Dole campaign – and the near-identical Electoral Map — are very revealing; each campaign featured:
• An aging war hero (Dole, McCain) vs. a young pacifist (Clinton, Obama)
• Democratic Presidential candidates who understood the importance of the minority and youth vote
• Telegenetic, energizing VP candidates for the GOP (Kemp, Palin) vs. stale Democratic bureaucrats (Gore, Biden)
• GOP VP candidates who provided the only discernable pulse in an otherwise moribund President ticket
I have enormous respect for John McCain and Bob Dole, in terms of their service to our nation. But ever since the 1960 Presidential debates, we learned that substance loses to style every time; if substance is perceived as being equal, style is the tie-breaker.
McCain lost The Right, and made no play for The Center.
Give Palin fours years as Governor to turn Alaska into the OPEC of North America. Or, let her replace Ted Stevens when he’s convicted. Either way, she’ll do fine.
VastRightWingConspirator on November 5, 2008 at 2:41 PM
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