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
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.
Blowback
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Wow, there are a lot of geniuses out there. Sure, take Palin – the only reason McCain ever had even a small prayer of victory – and let’s change her!!!
Sure, study up on the minutia that the talking heads will try to trip her up on. But she will also be at a point in a couple of years to talk to them like the yapping dogs that they are. The McCain camp initially tried to make her something she wasn’t. That’s never a smart move.
Sugar Land on November 5, 2008 at 3:02 PM
i don’t see how the world can function if America goes too left. Their economic policies will wreck not just our economy but others as well and add to that their desire to slash the military. Other economies basically feed off of ours
Whats going to stop China from taking Taiwan, hong Kong and other weak neighbors if not our leadership? Same with Eastern Europe and Russia???
jp on November 5, 2008 at 3:02 PM
With a spine of jello, independent is a good place for you. Good-bye.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:02 PM
If McCain did tap Palin, he would have had 3 votes. If anything, maybe Palin kept the Libertarians from getting a larger portion of the votes. Then again, who really wanted to vote for Bob Barr.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
I VOTED FOR MCCAIN FOR MCCAIN!
Sarah Palin just strengthened my belief in the ticket. And to insinuate that John would throw her under the bus himself I think just shows how much people don’t know John McCain. He’s too honorable for that. Perhaps some of his staffers are not. Obama is the one who’s all to willing to through people he associates with under the bus to save face. I.E. Wright, Ayers,etc. Which in itself is why I stood behind the candidate I did. I hope to see Sarah again and she expressed my sentiments exactly…I really felt this was John’s time. Period. End.
silentMajority on November 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
“Embrace bipartisianship.”
Because that worked so well for McCain. She just lost an election and you’re encouraging her to start pandering to the Democrats?
The lesson here should have been the right needs to come back to the right, not that they need to be more liberal.
Bipartisianship? Terrible advice.
angelat0763 on November 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
If McCain did tap someone other than…
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
the reality is, the amazing thing is that McCain only lost by 6 pts., given all the hurdles he had to overcome with the Financial Mess being the nail in the coffin after he had been winning amazingly
jp on November 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Most of the women who voted against Palin used her inexperience as an excuse. They saw in Governor Palin a women, whom they could never be. A woman who is untouched by the degradation that is abortion, a woman who is truly an equal partner with her husband, a woman who is compassionate, intelligent and successful. A woman who did not engage in the uterine based sexist hysteria so commonly attributed to liberal women, but rather was gracious, kind and given to thoughtful and deliberate governing for the people who elected her to serve Alaska.
bloggless on November 5, 2008 at 3:03 PM
I’ve got a question for y’all.
What about the PUMAs? Are they willing to support Palin for 2012? And wait it out all the while and help build the conservative base? And finally the opportunity to knock Obama from his Greek podium?
Any PUMAs out there in HA land who can respond to my question?
Kokonut on November 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Governor Palin, Governor Jindal and, other principled Republicans are the future of the party and of America. Huckabee is a southern democrat Baptist preacher masquerading as a Republican. Thus, he’s not the person to lead the Republican party, now or in the future.
AP proposes a good strategy for Gov. Palin to follow. I think her first course of business is to appoint someone to replace Senator Stevens and let him retire to his pork filled homestead.
There needs to be a change in the Republican leadership of the House and Senate. Congressmen that aren’t wanting to get along just to play nice. Otherwise, the coming litany of liberal social programs and policies will hamstring America for generations to come. Compromise works only when it’s not a cover for capitulation!
Gohawgs on November 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
Number 12 makes a good point. If the old media isn’t going to play fair then there is no need to play with them. Ignore them.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
I don’t blame anybody for going Independant. The Republican party left them along time ago.
apacalyps on November 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
What were the stupid questions? What foreign policy experience did you have as governor? Why do you oppose Roe v. Wade? What other court decisions do you disagree with and why? What should be done about the financial crisis?
Yes, what silly silly questions those are.
How come Newt Gingrich has never been made to look unprepared by the media? Please tell me.
alex342 on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Whiskey, Tango, all that. I hope that’s a joke.
capitalist piglet on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Do you have inside info on that? Pics or it didnt happen.
Baraky on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Errr, in purely technical terms I’m an Independent, I’m not registered to either party. I’m simply extremely far right.
*eats*
Grue in the Attic on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Huckabee has a real chance in 2012. By then Americans will be poorer, more miserable, our country frequently embarrassed by pissant dictators. Even as we lick our wounds, we will be in the midst of ethnic conflict as blacks accuse whites of racism and whites begin to resist it.
The nation will need a healing influence. A calm voice who can shepherd us to safe harbor. That leader won’t be Romney with his self-righteousness and coolness.
It might be Mike Huckabee. He can simply ask, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” He can als promise charitable hand-outs which will help with the materialistic voters.
My guess is that Giuliani, Thompson, and McCain will be retired then.
Jeb Bush could also be a factor in 2012. After we suffer the terrorist attacks under the Obama administration, the public’s appreciation of George W. Bush will grow. I don’t like to think about this, but Jeb could be cruising in 2012.
indythinker on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
I see you missed the point. I AM taking my ideas, and my money, elsewhere, and I’m done trusting your movement.
MikeA on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Palin 2012.
Embrace Amnesty? What? Move to the Center? Are you kidding.
The theory that Republicans needed a ‘reach across the aisle’ collaborator on Amnesty centrist to win the election was just definitively disproven. Surely we don’t have to repeat the experiment to learn that. While I agree that study, experience, and exposure will be good for a Palin candidacy, I hope she works to invigorate and broaden the conservative base. There are millions of conservatives who said they would never vote for McCain and they didn’t. We need to get them back actively into a party that’s true to conservative principles and Palin is the one who can do that.
McCain and Bush are both due respect for their contributions to the country. However the absurd decision to embrace Amnesty and try to ram it through ripped the party apart, destroyed morale, and appears to have produced nothing whatsoever in terms of the attempted pander to Latino voters. There are many Latinos who were, in fact, offended by McCain’s pro-Amnesty position — those would be the ones who are conservatives and there are lots of them.
I can’t think of a faster way to destroy Palin’s appeal to the base than to toss her out in pursuit of another run at Amnesty. JFC! If we have to have it, let the Dems force it down our throat please.
DaMav on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Don’t be so sure. Many independents bristled at her style, seeming lack of substance, some of her views, and her scandal. Whether you want to blame McCain’s campaign or Palin herself, she was “rolled out” all wrong, dodging questions and rumors that only grew, even the lies, which were widely believed. She should have said, “No, I don’t have foreign policy knowledge,” then pointed out that neither did Bill Clinton in 1992, and he was elected President, not Vice. She should have emphasized her executive experience and accomplishments, and not in sound-bite fashion; saying “thanks but no thanks” time after time didn’t help, especially when Democrats could reply, “Yeah, but she kept the cash.” She should have answered rumors – even silly rumors – in an affirmative fashion, e.g., “I know that dinosaurs roamed the earth before humans.” And she should have tempered her attacks; the “community organizer” line was good, but it didn’t have to be said in a way which angered community organizers.
I can’t count the number of Obama voters who gave Palin as an excuse for supporting Obama. Was it their true core reason? I don’t know. But I do know that it’s hard to envision a scenario in which she wins the Presidency in 2012.
calbear on November 5, 2008 at 3:06 PM
McCain would have lost even worse had it not been for Sarah Palin. The only thing sad is that McCain made her spew his garbage about certain topics. She was the only “conservative” on the ticket. I disagree with Allah about being bipartisan next time. Bunch of bunk. She needs to be a rock solid conservative and live and articulate those values and visions. It’s a true and tried way to victory. Look at the “moderate” Republican that ran… Chris Shays. He lost and he lost because he was bipartisan and crossed the aisle. The dems don’t cross the aisle, just weak kneed Republicans and we’re culling them out. Current Congress members best pay attention, and spew bipartisan deals with dems. It’s a prelude to “see ya”. We have had it and we don’t like to lose, just like Sarah doesn’t like to lose.
suzyk on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
No, it’s “Don’t blame me. I didn’t vote for a Socialist.”
Sara’Cuda…you betcha’ You go girl!
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Thanks, Grue.
Count to 10 on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
To paraphrase Biden, just remember these three words:
Jindal, Palin.
digitalintrigue on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Sorry, and no offense meant, but I can’t let you define “bipartisanship” in those terms.
Bipartisanship has always been viewed the way statesmen viewed it. It means sticking to your guns on those issues you cannot compromise on and working with others on common goals as Americans.
For instance….the traitorous dems proved themselves to be nothing more that political hacks when they used the funding of our troops in time of war as a way to achieve partisan political goals. This was the time for the dems to cross the aisle in statesmanlike manner for the good of the country. And be damned if it cost them the presidency two years later. But, they put partisan politics ahead of the safety of our troops and the security of this country.
We must expect our conservative leaders to be statesmanlike when the situation calls for it. Bipartisanship is a good thing when used properly.
csdeven on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Ah shit…Hannity is still at it.
rebuild. rebuild. rebuild.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
What about them. McCain got a lower percentage of Democratic voters than Bush did. I think the PUMAs are some kind of mirage.
CanadianGuy on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Yes. This is exactly correct. Palin gave them a convenient excuse to jump ship, one the MSM could embrace. Funny how no one really asked them why O was so qualified if Sarah wasn’t.
SAZMD on November 5, 2008 at 2:58 PM
The reason that no one asked is that it was obvious to almost everyone that Sarah (as the VP candidate) was much more qualified to be president than BO (as the presidential). When the media is in the tank for you they just don’t bring up things like that.
duff65 on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Sarah, you did not cost my husband or myself two votes for McCain/Palin. You are a great lady and hopefully you will be back soon running for office. God bless you and your wonderful family.
L
letget on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Palin has nothing to be sorry for. She worked her tail off and gave it hell, Frankly, she has more balls than the poor old GOP.
rplat on November 5, 2008 at 3:07 PM
One thing tho’, we have to push and push hard to ensure that we do more drilling for oil offshore and on land such as the Bakken oil fields of WY and ND and elsewhere. Otherwise if we don’t push for this we waste another 4 years depending on foreign source of oil from unfriendly and unstable countries. This means we’ll be spending $2.8 trillion dollars on foreign oil over the next 4 years.
Kokonut on November 5, 2008 at 3:08 PM
If we can get through 2010 without anymore Republican gay sex scandals, he have a good chance of gaining seats.
Speedwagon82 on November 5, 2008 at 3:08 PM
I’ve got a question for y’all.
What about the PUMAs? Are they willing to support Palin for 2012? And wait it out all the while and help build the conservative base? And finally the opportunity to knock Obama from his Greek podium?
Any PUMAs out there in HA land who can respond to my question?
Kokonut on November 5, 2008 at 3:04 PM
PUMAS????? HOAX
bloggless on November 5, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Yes, that is probably what you should do.
Genius.
Bye.
surrounded on November 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM
I read somewhere in the last few weeks that anytime an R is interviewed, it would be better to be live. They also need their own cameras rolling and their own transcript to release.
INC on November 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM
God I am slow today. Bad mental image.
Either way, my point was that McCain was doomed from the second he threw his hat in the ring. She just made everything a little less painful for the rest of us.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM
That’s a really good point. Hillary is finished as a national candidate.
Sarah Palin could organize the PUMAs and likeminded souls. Maybe something like a conservative-leaning Emily’s List or otherwise, a PAC. It could be great.
indythinker on November 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Pumas are liars. 80% went for Obama in PA. We don’t want trash in our party.
True conservative values. Love it or leave it.
CA yes to prop 8…..even in Kalifornia, conservative values are still alive.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:09 PM
No Sarah, John McCain owes you a “thank you” for doing as well as he did, and an apology for besmirching your name.
tre on November 5, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Some kid asked me today how I was feeling.
“Not so good” I replied.
“Not so good?” he asked.
“McCain lost. It sucks.” I responded, turning toward him and raising my arms as I walked away.
I didn’t catch what he said to that, but it sounded outraged. Nothing came of it though.
Count to 10 on November 5, 2008 at 3:10 PM
That’d be four words. Jin, Dal, Pa, Lin.
Learn to count the next time.
Kokonut on November 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM
I’ll be interested to see Sarah in the context outside of the McCain campaign. I really feel like they had her in a head lock the entire time…
hockey2k5 on November 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM
The RINOS are going to be abandoned. They are out. We need to clean it up. Republican will stand for conservatives, not RINOS once again. Rebuild, apacalyps. Rebuild.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM
It’s the message. Someone has to preach and live by the message. If there is anything to say about Palin, that’s it. She carried the message as a personal badge.
You are going to have to nominate someone who can articulate the message and lives by it.
As far as anti-illegal immigration, let’s be clear on that, we were not clear. We did sound too damned racial in the matter and are alienating a big chunk of people that should be in our corner.
Let me be clear. One of the biggest problems that conservatives have is separating the ideas of crime and disease from the race of the enclave. I don’t mean that we are racists, but sometimes, even as a conservative who was concerned about the security of our borders, some of our messages sounded a little to shrill. Like diseases being brought into the country or high prison rates among illegals. Which, unfortunately, in the land that is supposed to have welcomed the wretched refuse, sounded a lot like “those brown people are bad”.
We never translated that into a message of security or prosperity for hispanics or blacks or other immigrants. We haven’t done that in a long time. Mostly, what we’ve done is talked a lot about these people coming across the border and stealing something from us. Or, people taking advantage of the system.
That cannot be the main message. Even if part of it is true. That can be side arguments, but the main argument has got to be how to improve people’s lives. You don’t like the hopey changey stuff, but people want that. So, how do you change the message from the big negative to the positive?
People do not vote negatives. They vote positives. Think why Bush won in 2004 (people voted against him, not for Kerry) and why Obama won in 2008 (people voted against Obama, but not for McCain).
Kat_Mo on November 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM
I really don’t want Palin to go after PUMAs. They are Clinton supporters, which means their stances are not my stances. I liked Palin for the core of her politics, not her ability (or lack thereof) to draw women to vote Republican.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:11 PM
Bipartisanship: sticking to your principles except when you don’t.
No thanks.
digitalintrigue on November 5, 2008 at 3:12 PM
As much as I hate it when people say “take the high road” I do hope that Palin follows through on doing that. We’re already reading the leaks, snips about tension between her and McCain. Don’t know if they’re true or coming from people looking to excuse their own shoddy campaign efforts, or supporters of other potential candidate looking to trash her as competition or people just trying to get their 15 minutes of fame. However if Palin stays away from the trash talking she will have plenty of people defending her.
Like others I wasn’t a big McCain fan and saw the Palin pick as an indication that he really did want to reform DC. Unfortunately IMO McCain’s long tenure in the Senate impacted his willingness to play hardball with Senate collegues. The “old boys club” was more important than winning.
katiejane on November 5, 2008 at 3:12 PM
Grue. You are a right wing conspiracy, like me. Independent is just a name. He wants to leave us, from what I read.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:12 PM
I tend to agree. A Rush so aptly states “Reagan didn’t cross the aisle, he brought Dems and Indys to the right”
MechEng5by5 on November 5, 2008 at 3:12 PM
I’m asking this question to any PUMAs. Are you a PUMA, Hornetsting?
Even if we get 20% on our side that’d be a considerable number and a starting point to help galvanize more people to help support Palin in 2012.
Kokonut on November 5, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Youre exactly right. I cant believe I am reading this. A centrist republican will never win the whitehouse, Rove knows how to win the whitehouse and he never promoted that. Even Rush today said that there are no longer any “moderate republicans” left in the northeast because they all got botted out of office yesterday.
Rove always said the way to win is solidify the base and grow it with conservative principles and snatch some indies along the way to get 51%. Also, there is no such thing as an independent, they are swing voters, they vote either R or D.
Forget the big tent, forget being inclusive, be a conservative supporting all 3 legs of the conservative stool and friggin stand by it. THATS how we win.
broker1 on November 5, 2008 at 3:13 PM
She needs to take Ted Stevens seat when he steps down. She resigns as Governor and the LT. GOV appoints her to fill the term.
She comes to Washington and gets on the foreign affairs committee. 2012 we win.
Jdripper on November 5, 2008 at 3:13 PM
No, I’m not. Pumas are a mirage and they sure as hell aren’t here. They were in Chicago last night, crying and worshipping their messiah.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Why would we need PUMAs when we are already trying to get rid of RINOs? They are basically of the same ilk.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:15 PM
I agree with your comment. Bush should have spent more of his “political capital” from 2004 on judges and economic issues, and I think the party would have had his back. However, he chose to blow it on amnesty.
INC on November 5, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Screw the RINOs, Palin was a net gain for us.
Tony737 on November 5, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Caviat on my disagreeing with Allahs post about how she should shape herself:
He is absolutely right about re-running as governor, more executive experience is what she needs. Becoming a senator will do nothing I believe unless she becomes head of an important committee. Other than that a Senator winning the presidency is very rare. Except today of course.
broker1 on November 5, 2008 at 3:16 PM
You are deeply, deeply deluded. There will never be enough blindly loyal Baptists in this country for that to happen. Haven’t you just seen what blindly loyal RINOs like wise_man achieve?
FULLY conservative governance or no more USA.
TMK on November 5, 2008 at 3:17 PM
I don’t know what y’all think of Karl Rove, but I really think he and Newt need to call up Sarah Palin TODAY en route to 2012. What do you guys think?
hockey2k5 on November 5, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Precisely.
I think the mistake is making such a suggestion when all the hardcore’s are still licking their wounds. I’m fairly certain the way many are feeling today, they wouldn’t spit on a Democrat if they were on fire.
SouthernDem on November 5, 2008 at 3:17 PM
I was just playin’ man. But your point is right on the mark good sir.
Baraky on November 5, 2008 at 3:17 PM
I think Palin had so much more potential then the McCain camp knew how to handle. The irrational hatred towards her could have been combated but they insisted on her reciting talking points instead of being a real person.
Palin should have “gone rogue”, and McCain should have played up his tempter instead of acting like a sweet grandpa. People wanted them to be mad as hell, and they wold have won if they broke out of politician mode…but I think she was the only one with the guts to do it.
Obamalama Deprogrammer on November 5, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Immigration will be a huuuuge issue soon. She needs to come out AGAINST AMNESTY. Talk abotu uniting the base AND the center…
P.S. Allah, good job of pouring the gasoline.
marklmail on November 5, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Every young, upcoming Republican rising star in the party gets the “treatment” from the press. I guess they figure if they run ‘em down and knock ‘em out early then we will eventually have no replacements, because who wants to run that gauntlet? They succeeded in doing it to Dan Quayle and they tried to do it to Palin, but she blew past them with grace. She is an amazing woman, I wish her well and thank her for giving me hope for the future of our party.
Done That on November 5, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Bad idea, She needs to stay where she is at. Win re-election. Set up a PAC for other like minded conservatives and then have the biggest ground game in the history of presidental campaigns in 2012, and win all 538 electoral votes
ConservativePartyNow on November 5, 2008 at 3:20 PM
Well, I was one vote that Sarah Palin got for McCain.
If he had picked Joe Biden or a host of others, I would have voted 3rd party. So,, Palin brought my vote to McCain.
JellyToast on November 5, 2008 at 3:21 PM
If I were Gov. Palin I would go back to where an overwhelming majority of my constituents approve of me and tell the 50% in the lower who dislike me and 1/2 of the remaining 50% who would throw me under the bus to suit their agenda to kiss my six!
thomasaur on November 5, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Bi-partisanship? Ech. Continue to be a reformer, and if there are any Dems out there who are tax cutters and energy hawks, fine, go for it.
The best thing Palin can do is make herself the Energy Czarina. Distance herself from McCain’s idiotic cap and trade ideas and his stubbornness on ANWR.
The time is ripe now that we know that Obama cavalier attitude about bankrupting coal companies and his delight at the thought of skyrocketing electricity costs.
Obama (and the Dems in Congress) are very vulnerable on this issue. It’s time for a Pit Bull strategy. Go for the throat.
Buy Danish on November 5, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Governor Palin, please ignore the idiots who are urging you to embrace bipartisanship!!!! It does not work for Repulicans. Stay true to your base- we love you and youa re the only reason I voted for McCain. Ignore the garbage spread by Newsweek about your wardrobe- they are only trying to blame you
trainwife1962 on November 5, 2008 at 3:21 PM
http://gov.state.ak.us/govmail.php
you can send her emails here
gannak on November 5, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Technically, lots of things are are good when used properly. The problem occurs when you try to get people to use them properly. Everyone has a different view of “properly.”
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:22 PM
What bothers me is that the Dems spent their “time in the wilderness” going absolutely nuts, and have come roaring back into control fully in the grip of that madness.
The republican party can be said to have three loose groupings: Social, fiscal, and foreign policy conservatives.
The Democrats are a tightly wound bundle of numerous special interests groups united only in their conviction that Republicans are their enemies. Is it possible that it will shatter to pieces when they get into power?
Count to 10 on November 5, 2008 at 3:22 PM
McCain’s a hoses arse period
He wasn’t going to worth a box of salt either.
Tony Soprano on November 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Sarah Palin, listen up!!! YOU carried McCain farther than he would have ever gone on his own.
NO BIPARTISANSHIP!!!! Look where that stupid idea got us. You stick to being a conservative Sarah, and you’ll go far. Run for Governor. Don’t sink into the snakepit of Congress.
Right on, Oink. The only reason this thing was close was because of Sarah. And she has nothing to gain by going to Congress.
Bipartisanship as a strategy is a guaranteed loser. I would scream at my TV each time I heard McCain talk about ‘reaching across the aisle.’ There’s nothing across the aisle conservatives are interested in! Consensus = absence of leadership, and frankly, we’ve lacked real leadership for far too long. True conservatism, a la Ronald Reagan, wins every time it’s tried.
jonrademacher on November 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
So is Arsenic.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
According to de Tocqueville, the people get the government they deserve. I’m a Republican because the party of my parents, the Democratic party left me behind. I didn’t particularly care for John McCain, although I now have a good deal more respect for him. I like Sarah Palin and, although I don’t know what her asperations are, here are my hopes for her: that she continues to enjoy great success as Governor in Alaska; that she writes a book about her run for office so that the truth is on record; that she makes a lot of money so her family can move up from the middle class without the help of Obama; that she gets a show on CNN or some equivalent media outlet; that she lets her voice be heard on energy and special needs kids and that she does everything for us that she can in these areas; that she lives happily with her family and that she is fulfilled. Let the GoP come to her for leadership or be damned.
littleguy on November 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Palin perhaps could have won the election for him under different circumstances (though I doubt it), but she definitely didn’t lose it for him. In the end, I think the old conventional wisdom was correct. VPs don’t decide elections – it’s the guy at the top.
SAZMD on November 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
This thread only reinforces what we all know. Republicans are great at devouring their young. Listen up!!! Our opponents are not each other. We need to mix it up with those who are. Liberals are the enemy, but liberal means nothing without a face. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi should be the poster child for liberalism.
Forget attacking Palin. She is one of us. We’ll need her voice in this battle. Please, Reid and Pelosi are the enemy to our freedoms. Let’s all make their names famous to the world. Our mantra should be for 2010, do we want two more years of Reid Pelosi liberalism. Let’s tattoo it to every independent forehead in our great country.
Let’s fight together!!
Proud Conservative on November 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
That is my exact point.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:24 PM
Mitt Romney is the fatal cancer in the Republican party. If we as a party keep trying to pull candidates like Romney, who is phony RINO and a complete facade for the K-Street Banker minded Cardboard cut-out car salesman politician…than the conservative movement will die.
Sarah Palin has nothing to prove. She lives her values, ethics, & conservatism. This election loss is the character builder that 1976 was to Ronald Reagan & the spotlight that 1964 was also. Our party has become to complacent in allowing Phony two bit RINOs to infiltrate the power positions of the Conservative party.
Its time to clean house GOP. Let those who jumped ship (Noonan,Hitchens,Will,& other slime) dog paddle to Obama land. Lets drop some Rat traps and get rid of the RINOS!!!
portlandon on November 5, 2008 at 3:25 PM
5. Don’t list to Allah.
Jim-Rose on November 5, 2008 at 3:26 PM
(Palin Jindal 2012) Real consev.works and wins ever time.
thmcbb on November 5, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Another thing just occurred to me,,, I am wondering how much unity McCain will bring now to the Senate. Kinda wondering if he may not go back to Republican spoiler.
I can see him out there with some Democrats in front of the cameras earnestly undercutting conservative Republicans for “unity” sake!
I heard Rush say the media loves him again! Well,, he’s in the Senate. Why else would they love him again if they do not want to use him again as the Maverick to help Dems pass their garbage!!
JellyToast on November 5, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Amen.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Bi-partisanship is one of two things:
a) Politicians ignoring ideology in order to give themselves more power or more pork,
or b) not rebuffing people from the opposite party who would like to support something that makes sense.
The problem is that, while b) makes us feel good, if you push for it you always get a).
Count to 10 on November 5, 2008 at 3:27 PM
You didn’t cost McCain any votes Sarah. So keep your head up! You energized the conservative base. Without you John would have lost by a considerably larger margin. He would have lost by millions of more votes. You did a great job and we are proud of you. Truth is, you were the only one worth voting for in this election. But, now that the election is over and you will have time to reflect please… please don’t forget, the only ONE who has the power to seat and unseat kings (Psalm 75:6-7) and who causes blessings to fall (Psalm 145) on those He chooses, is Jesus Christ our Lord. So don’t forsake your principles because following what God says is more important than reading briefing papers by the RNC and so-called experts who never get it right. The Bible is right! What GOD says is what’s right! Don’t ever forget this and don’t ever feel uncomfortable and ashamed about being a Christian. Speak boldy (Acts 4:31). The sooner America (or any other nation) realizes this the sooner God will heal their land.
apacalyps on November 5, 2008 at 3:27 PM
McCain got this vote because of Sarah Palin.
PrettyD_Vicious on November 5, 2008 at 3:28 PM
If Mitt gets it I stay home. I will not try to elect, work for or give money for another RINO. I would rather embrace socialism full on
unseen on November 5, 2008 at 3:28 PM
I love Sarah Palin.
Paul-Cincy on November 5, 2008 at 3:29 PM
First Allah, define “bipartisanship” as it applies to the democrats.
And Allah, could you name 10 liberal initiatives that you believe conservatives should adopt immediately, that will get this new-fangled “bipartisanship” thing rolling?
RMR on November 5, 2008 at 3:30 PM
The PUMA “phenomenon” was total bunk. There were 4 or 5 Hillary partisans who hated Obama, and they were extremely loud at insisting they were a “movement”.
Lehosh on November 5, 2008 at 3:30 PM
And that’s what happened last night, and in 2006. I hate McCain more than fire ants, but Sarah got my ass to the polls. Now, we have to rebuild so that we don’t get a ROMNEY in 2012. We need a true conservative. Not this trash we had this year.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 3:30 PM
I agree that McCain’s choice of Sarah for VP eventually energized the Obama base, because quite simply she posed a threat to the ‘inevitability’ scenario. Why else would the left and the MSM throw everything but the kitchen sink at her to torpedo her chance to gain instant credibility and traction. However, it’s like sports: when one team improves its talent base, its competition has to follow suit or fall behind in the ability to compete. Sure McCain’s choice of Sarah fired up Obama’s troops but McCain by far gained the greater benefit of solidifying the base and energizing his campaign.
technopeasant on November 5, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Seriously, we all need to do some research on our own about “up and coming” Republicans in our own areas. I know everyone throws around Palin, Jindal, and Sanford. They are all great, but we need more.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 3:32 PM
The republican party lost in ’06 and ’08 because:
1. in times of economic insecurity the dems always win. They can promise a gov’t check or job and deliver it tomorrow. On the economy Republicans need to keep talking about fiscal responsibility, low taxes (but only if tied to a smaller gov’t., see fiscal responsibility) and growth vs. welfare – NO other economic issues should be raised by a republican candidate because they won’t be heard (despite what NRO and the like say). Responsibility, low taxes and opposition to welfare of any sort are not a majority position, but they do appeal to a large part of the population, and especially to young people.
2.we have to emphasize energy production and independence. No “green” republicans need apply. McCain’s waffling on this was the chief cause of his defeat. This is where the democrats will overstep and look foolish.
3. The republican party lost credibility on National Security issues when Bush and team screwed up the Iraq war. This comes from a supporter of the war. This will be a very difficult thing to overcome, this issue was responsible for both the reagan and bush victories. I don’t know how a party out of power can improve it’s credibility on nat sec issues.
4. McCain refused to be a social warrior, and even though the media painted Palin as one she was only allowed to give a couple speeches on Abortion and none on Gay Marriage.
In summary – Energy independence through production, unapologetic stands on social issues and a return to a responsible stand on free market economics.
kcewa on November 5, 2008 at 3:33 PM
I said it before the election and I say it again:I don think has ever been a real PUMA movement. The most were a few centrist democrats that didn’t want to surrender. That’s all. If it was a real PUMA vote McCain would have won OH and PA.
clemycali on November 5, 2008 at 3:33 PM
If the Republican Party fails to distance itself from Huckabee it will never regain power. The kind of hate that comes from that wing of the party is what will be the down fall of everything good in America. It is Huckabee’s mind set that brought this communist revolution upon us.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Just to echo what a bunch of people have already said, Palin was the reason I voted McCain.
pb5000 on November 5, 2008 at 3:35 PM
What a-hole did we get in his place? Wasn’t that the bet?
I always checked for his posts. It’s like the 2nd death for me in two weeks (third if you count McCain’s loss)
Moxie on November 5, 2008 at 3:36 PM
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