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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The American people sense something is wrong. Americans know that we’re going in the wrong direction. Americans are hungry for answers! They urgently want new leadership. They urgently want new hope. What we need to do is we need to build a mass movement. Not of Republicans or Conservatives, or do-do heads that listen to talk radio or Fox… that’s NOT THE ANSWER. The answer is to build a brand new mass movement with a completely clean slate. With patriotic, God-fearing, Bible-believing, American Gentiles. American Gentiles should build this country. We need a patriotic, right-wing, Bible-believing, God-fearing, movement of righteous Gentiles, who are gonna save this country. Who are gonna take this country back. If the American people were exposed to this message we would win!
apacalyps on November 5, 2008 at 4:35 PM
DFCTomm:
Reagan was not a hardliner. He compromised, he made deals. He was not some far right demagogue. And he never demanded that other people agree with him on everything.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:35 PM
I take exception to any suggestion that Sarah Palin needs to do anything to “go forward,” especially “embracing bipartisanship.” She is the only reason I voted for and donated to the Republican Party this year. She shares my values. She is a refreshingly authentic person in a crowd of spin-doctored and soulless sharks.
I’m making plans to relocate to Alaska so I can be around independent-minded people who love what I love and think like I think. Basically, I’ve had it. Seriously.
Venusian Visitor on November 5, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Sarah, don’t forget that Barry began running for POTUS on, or even before, the date he was sworn in (with his Auntie watching, not from her home in the projects, but as a spectator…) and he kept at it all during the time he was supposed to be acting as Senator. So get going right now, girl; I’d contribute immediately to a “formation team” or whatever, if I were to hear of one.
Like many posters here, I was apathetic about McCain’s sleepy, uninspiring “Bob Dole-like” campaign, till he named Sarah as VP contender; on that very day, as did many another, I sent off $500 to the McCain campaign, and would eagerly do so again for a Palin for Prexy in 2012 effort… This woman is just wonderful. And the soul of what our Party needs now.
jsaturn on November 5, 2008 at 4:37 PM
The motive behind McCain was that he could draw Independents and moderate/conservative Democrats, and not disenfranchise the base to the point it was nonfunctional. He accomplished none of those objectives, but hey lets try it again in four years!
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Starting sometime next year she should show up from time to time on Hannity & Colmes, which has to be a mid afternoon gig for her by video conference. It would be a pleasure watching her take poor Alan apart limb by limb.
EconomicNeocon on November 5, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Totally disagree with No. 3. The last thing we need is another milquetoast “Conservative”. I want Palin to keep running on strong conservative principles, period. We need to rebuild the conservative movement, and squishy bi-partisans need not apply. It’s not as if the Dems have won with bi-partisanship. To the contrary, they’ve won by focusing their message as a far-left alternative to a very unpopular Republican president. By the time 2012 rolls around, people will be open to alternative to Hope ‘N Change, too, so long as it’s an honest alternative. Bi-partisanship is BS, anyway. I want to beat the Dems, not get along with them. If they want to sign on to the conservative agenda, that’s cool, but no more compromising for the sake of “Bi-partisanship”.
holygoat on November 5, 2008 at 4:37 PM
littleguy on November 5, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Okay, gotcha. No, I think McCain would have been squashed regardless given the political climate. What I’m saying is that Palin did nothing to ameliorate the situation. I get that the base doesn’t like McCain and she brought them out. Fine, but the bottom line is that she was in over her head otherwise and was deemed unacceptable by a majority of the voting public.
alex342 on November 5, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Honestly, how much of politics is about circumstances more than ideology? Carter came into office because Nixon resigned, Reagan came to office because Carter was a disaster…so so on. It just wasn’t a good year for Republicans period. Just time to move on.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Terrye: That’s understandable. That’s how politics works. It’s a dirty business, requiring both sides to bend some of their core principles.
But here’s the difference: We’re asking our party to bend our principles before we get to the table with the other party. And then we bend them a little more once we get to the table. And then once we’ve been at the table a while, we loosen our belt a couple notches to make room for our feast, and bend our principles some more.
If we really needed to become more liberal in order to win, then Democrats wouldn’t lie about their positions. People self-identify as conservative. And politicians who sound like pro-life, pro-gun, small-government tax-cutters win the center.
And while we may lose some of the right-wingers by going moderate, we won’t gain any left-wingers. See John Murtha for evidence of that. See the coal union endorsement.
hawksruleva on November 5, 2008 at 4:38 PM
I find it troubling that so many people these days assume conservative = turbo-Christian. To me Conservatism means, minimal government, you keep what you earn, and for the most part, what goes on in your own home, so long as you are not causing harm to anyone, is your own damn business.
Kamikaze on November 5, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Careful there, pocky, we’ve been through the religious vs political fight before, and the religious party you seem to envision would be nothing if not marginal.
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Allah, what is the bipartisan crap. The way to win is to be a conservative. I will never vote for a bipartisan candidate again. Look where bipartisanship has gotten conservatism, nowhere. Look at Prop 8 in California. That is conservatism. Protect marriage and also state courts do not make law. It brought dems to our ticket which is how Reagan won. This going to the center is the most idiotic way to go. You will lose me and many others like me.
BMoFo on November 5, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I think a little patience is required now. In 2006 many Democrats were elected by campaigning as conservatives. Personally, I like real conservatives regardeless of party – there are just too few. So-called conservatives sold out their principles and here we are. The tide rolls in and then it recedes. Opportunity lies just around the corner.
littleguy on November 5, 2008 at 4:41 PM
It’s true that he softened the image of conservatives (not too difficult considering Goldwater was the standard), but it’s wrong to suggest that that was the whole of it. Reagan won not because he converted moderates to conservatives, but because he convinced moderates to vote for him based on his governing proposals and the order of priority he gave them. This is the problem with the reverence of Reagan among conservatives: they revere him for things (e.g. his stance on abortion) that a lot of moderates didn’t really base their vote on, and don’t remember him for nowadays. We (I say this as a moderate) liked him because he cut taxes and especially because he moved the USA towards victory in the Cold War. We also liked his general optimism and centrist tendencies on things like immigration.
If conservatives want to come back to power, they’re going to have to emulate Reagan and find a few big issues that they agree with a lot of moderates and some liberals on, and run on those – fully expecting to compromise with the opposition somewhere along the way. The obsessions of “the base” are not a good place to start.
Big S on November 5, 2008 at 4:42 PM
DFCtomm:
That is pack of lies. The idea that McCain was out to get the base is total crap. I am so tired of this paranoid nonsense. This is why Republicans lose, all they do is attack each other. McCain has a long history has a successful politician in his home state. He was friends with Goldwater for Chrisake. The fact that he did not jump through hoops for the self appointed purity police does not mean he was out to destroy conservatives. That is just nuts.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:42 PM
He brought back the B1 bomber. He supported star wars, which was a joke to Democrats, and he attacked government employee unions. He went to the people directly and asked them to apply pressure to their representatives to cross the isle to his side. The only compromise I can remember was the amnesty, and we see how that turned out. Do you know of any other examples where his compromises actually produced anything other than poison fruit?
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 4:42 PM
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:04 PM
1. I’ve been listening to you say this all day. Was Reagan a moderate or a conservative?
2. Your view of the Republican party is so narrow that you should be a Ron Paul supporter. There are more ways than one to be conservative. I think everyone in the Republican party is conservative but more so on some issues than others.
3. My guess is that someone like Rush say, would put fiscal and foreign policy conservativism ahead of his social conservativism. After all in his own life Rush hasn’t been the the best example of conservatism.
4. And Sarah Palin certainly made some comprimises on Fiscal conservatism over her social conservatism. Ie. earmarks and taxing the oil companies…
5. Everyone has to prioritize.
I’m not sure how you can say Romney is not conservative when all he did was look at the reality of running in Mass and decide it was better to pursue a more conservative course than completely cave into the prevailing liberalism of Mass.
6. Romney is as conservative as you are. He just lived in a different place and had to make due with the world as he found it. If he hadn’t he couldn’t make any difference at all.
7. Sitting around saying that’s not conservative enough is not getting us anywhere. We don’t live in a world that will accept that.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 4:15 PM
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:43 PM
Big S:
I think you are absolutely right. Reagan made sense to people.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:43 PM
holygoat: that’s an excellent point. What’s crazy is the dichotomy that Dems display, which is the very thing that frustrates so many of us.
Dems run WAYYYYYY to the left for 3 1/2 years. Then, once they’re out of their primaries, they dig out their moderate costume, or even a conservative costume if they can pull it off. For every Nancy Pelosi, who can win her liberal district without the charade, there’s a dozen Jim Webbs, who can’t win on Democrat ideals.
hawksruleva on November 5, 2008 at 4:43 PM
How could anyone NOT admire this woman. She’s incredibly REAL and that’s what scares so many of the elite and ignorant people in this country.
Sarah…go rock the world!!
lyfsatrip on November 5, 2008 at 4:44 PM
All this talk of lukewarm moderatism was our problem to begin with! We had the most lukewarm centerish candidate available – and look would happened people!
We NEVER win with a RINO. Nixon and Reagan ran as conservatives! Nixon then governed as RINO – but he got nearly all the states because he ran as conservative even during a botched war like Vietnam.
winged on November 5, 2008 at 4:44 PM
sarah
you are the reason John got
lexa on November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
After the way the View acted that is just insulting! I wish I could personally cancel that show!
Romney was the victim of many dirty tricks never did he do one on any other canidate. Romney was not always nice, however, his ads always told the truth and could be totally verified. Unlike his oponents. Such as the Pinocios given to his oponents. Huckabee was just not used to being called on his record. And his followers were shocked to see his true record and refused to believe it. How could anyone accuse a preacher of dishonestly there must be some other explanation! It was as sick as the Obama cult.
That said, I dont’ think Romney should run again. Huckabee was sucessful in ending his career the lies have become truth to too many people. There is just too much prejudice against him because of religion he will never get a fair shake. And it is the country’s loss he had excellent ideas and solutions and could really have helped build back the economy. But rejection is rejection.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
HornetSting:
I know a lot of Reagan Democrats who voted for Reagan in spite of the fact that they did not agree with all his ideas. The difference was it was understood by both them and him that they did not need to agree with everything, not if they had a larger purpose.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
I’ll say it again. We need a patriotic, right-wing, Bible-believing, God-fearing, movement of righteous Gentiles, who are gonna save this country. Who are gonna take this country back. That will stand for what’s right. That will stand for the truth. That will stand up for justice. That will save America and will take America back! You wanna know the plan to change this? Because we’ve done it before. And we can do it again. Remember the old song, “We did it before and we can do it again.” That’s the plan! And it’s true. And if some of you don’t know that old song, it’s one of the songs that helped win WWII. Listen to the song. It’s true. And these things must happen if this is to become a great nation once again!
apacalyps on November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Where is the lie? Is it a lie that he was suppose to attract independents? Is it a lie when he was suppose to have pulled in moderate Democrats? We know the base was very unhappy with his amnesty position, so I’m not sure where I lied.
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
That’s another thing: Can we stop obsessing over Reagan? I don’t think it helps to look to past. I think the country has drastically changed from the 1980s, things are different. Following an old formula isn’t going to work.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 4:45 PM
any votes at all
2012 girl we are looking forward to it
lexa on November 5, 2008 at 4:46 PM
As usual, the liberal suggests surrender.
peacenprosperity on November 5, 2008 at 4:46 PM
Do you know of any other examples where his compromises actually produced anything other than poison fruit?
alex342 on November 5, 2008 at 4:46 PM
John McCain, trailboss, we could have done better.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:47 PM
winged:
Who decides what is moderate and what is conservative? Is there some judge or jury or test? What about the voters? Do they decide?
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:47 PM
I almost agree with that. Reagan made conservatism make sense to people.
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 4:47 PM
I think socialism and totalitarianism is alot older then Ronald Reagan.
peacenprosperity on November 5, 2008 at 4:47 PM
The first of that post got lost somewhere in the internet
Sarah you are the reason John got any votes at all…
lexa on November 5, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Stand up, Stand up and fight! Terrye, you’re a voice of reason in this time of the Conservative Inquisition. Keep it up.
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 4:48 PM
peacenprosperity:
I heard Palin say that it was her ability to work with members of both parties in Alaska that allowed her to clean up the corruption. I think maybe her practical experience here is more important than some ideological fervor that accomplishes nothing.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:49 PM
Venusian Visitor on November 5, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Yes, Terrye. That’s the idea. Reagan didn’t cave to the moonbats.
-immigration.
-global warming.
McCain. Ugh.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:50 PM
I hope she runs for AK gov. again and battles for the resurrection of state’s rights to fight the big, bad F E D E R A L machine.
Time for the call to go out for the return to individualism and the role of the states vs. federal government.
The conservative movement has to begin rebuilding the states power to counter the collectivists.
AK can lead by example with her winning another term as gov.
cryptojunkie on November 5, 2008 at 4:50 PM
When the first arms treaty is negotiated between the Democrats and Republicans then that will probably apply.
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
I mean formula as in winning election. I think the GOP still campaigns like it’s 1984. Let’s move past that.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
How, pray tell HS, how?
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Yeah, cause the Maverick ideal was GREAT. Look, we just need to stick with our ideals and not sell out to the MSM and the liberals so they will like us.
MSM LOVES McCain again…because he lost.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Palin didn’t cost McCain anymore than the elitist twit wing of the party, the Parkers, the Buckley’s, the Noonan’s (twenty says she voted Obama anyway) and the Will’s.
The votes that she delivered for him?
I’d say millions, perhaps tens of millions.
No Sarah, you didn’t cost McCain any votes that you didn’t more than make up for 1000 times over with the votes you brought in.
Now go back to Alaska, win the Gov’s office again, educate yourself on the vastness of federal and geo-politics, then squash that bug Huckabee in the primaries.
2012 is your year.
SuperCool on November 5, 2008 at 4:51 PM
I think that is right. There is just not enough agreement on what is conservative to form much of a base. And looking for someone who agrees 100% of the time is not going to happen.
Pick a few issues. Make them issues that touch everyone’s life. Allow people to think for themselves and not have a litmus test.
One Republican’s RINO is another Republican’s orthodox. I’m shocked at people who think there way is the only way. This isn’t religion this is politics.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 4:52 PM
By running a conservative. Not a Maverick. McCain was done Feb 5. He was democrat lite.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Palin… hell yes. Where do I send the check.
cptthumper on November 5, 2008 at 4:53 PM
trailboss:
You know what? I think the idea that McCain was deliberately plotting against particular members of the conservative movement or something is just nuts.
In Oklahoma there is a Senator named Coburn who has some of the same traits of McCain. He was not a strong supporter of the war, but he is very strong on small government and fiscal conservative. I think a lot of conservatives know who he is. There have been times when he has not gone along with the party, but I think that is because he feels that his first obligation is to his constituents. You can fault him for that, but that does not mean he is trying to destroy anyone.
I think the idea that McCain was the enemy or that his intentions were malicious is not only paranoid, it is an insult to a man of his stature.
Now that does not mean you have to agree with him, but that does not mean he is out to get anyone.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Who’d you have in mind, that could actually appeal to enough voters to win?
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 4:54 PM
All due respect, Allah, you’re a dipshit.
Sorry if that language is too colorful, but listening to dopes like you is what got the GOP into this mess. McCain lost 7 million votes that bush got, without Palin it would have been twice that. We elected the GOP to all three branches of government, expecting them to act like, you know, republicans when they got there…instead we got no drilling in anwr, no social security reform, and the biggest explosion of government spending in the history of the world, this absolutely killed them in 2006, but of course, talking heads like you convinced them that they needed to become even more like democrats going forward. How did that work out ?? How did McCain’s Amnesty train work out ? did it garner him any Latino votes ? NO, did it lose him conservative votes ? obviously yes. McCain lost this election the day he supported the bailout. If our nominee is going to act as much the socialist as their nominee, then whats the point, exactly ?
Why don’t we try acting like conservatives for once, and see how that works out ? If our guys are going to act Bi Partisan, then why do we need them ? we want someone who represents US, not someone trying to kiss washingtons ass.
The next two years are going to be an unmitigated disaster for the Dems, and the only way we’ll benefit in 2010 is if our representatives start representing OUR views.
johngalt on November 5, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Petunia…we agree on this…dammit, girl, we’ve been fighting all day on this, but we agree. No, not every issue is going to resonate with everyone, but you stand up for something. Fight for it. Go with what affects people’s lives. Immigration for one. Loss of jobs, lower wages, crime, sovereignty. Global warming…come on, leave it to the radicals.
Pick a few and bring them in. But, don’t cut your ideals to be liked. That’s all.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Reagan accomplished far more than Gingrich ever could do. Plus, Reagan stayed around to the very end as a steadfast ally until Alzheimer’s made that impossible.
For those whom would question “old formulas” of Reagan’s taking the message to the people instead of through a hostile press in bed with the DNC(similar to Palin’s, hint, hint)… I have a suggestion. The old formula (thousands of years) of boiling rice still works. Try the alternative and see for yourselves.
viking01 on November 5, 2008 at 4:56 PM
Agreed, closed mindedness is why we didn’t. Looking for all of us to agree is futile. And trying to exclude others because of priorities is an exercise in suicide. Which is now legal in the state of my birth after this election. How’s that for libertarian/conservative in a democratic state.
Any way the failure to get behind someone who was more conservative than McCain yet imperfect is how we got McCain. Looking for perfection failed so we took the next in line. Again like we always do.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 4:57 PM
HornetSting:
Once again, where were you people when it mattered? McCain got the nomination, live with it. The truth is we do not know that any other ticket would have fared any better. This is just Monday morning quarterbacking.
Terrye on November 5, 2008 at 4:58 PM
I don’t think it is a single person yet. But, if they are about the same things we are, life, family, love of country, love of our military….
Love of your country enough to fight for her.
If you want a name, Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, Canton?? Is that his name. Rep house, he spoke out on the MOAB….we need to rebuild, circle the wagons, trailboss.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 4:59 PM
No we didn’t campaign like it was 1984 and that’s the problem. Do you think Reagan would have skirted the big issues, or confronted them head on and made them the center piece of his policy?
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Look my only point is that the realities are different. We have new technologies that the GOP can use to spread the message. We are also a much more ethnically diverse people also, as last night showed. I’m just we need to broaden our appeal. That’s all.
terryannonline on November 5, 2008 at 4:59 PM
Who’d you have in mind, that could actually appeal to enough voters to win?
As it turned out Palin’s message had a lot of appeal.
Someone on the top of the ticket with her message and with better political skills than McCain would stood a better chance than McCain.
kcewa on November 5, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Oh, and don’t blame all the Buckleys just because of Chris. Many families have their Ron Jr. equivalent looking for TV time or having books to sell which aren’t moving off the shelves at a comfortable pace.
viking01 on November 5, 2008 at 5:00 PM
I didn’t get to vote until June 6, Terrye. I was screaming at the television and jumping up and down on the couch…not Tom Cruise style, mind you.
Yes, McCain was the sacrificial lamb. We rebuild, starting today. I need to do some research…..
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:00 PM
I think the paranoid viewpoint arises from an inability to trust anyone that does not completely agree with you, and from a rigid attitude that any compromise is sin. It stems somewhat from the intrusion of religion into politics. Religion is by nature the pursuit of absolute truth. Politics is by nature the process of people with differing viewpoints finding a way of coming together, and compromise is the only way it works. Demands for ideological purity is fine in church, but is surefire way to defeat in politics.
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 5:01 PM
See above post, petunia. Yeah.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:01 PM
Canton?? Is that his name. Rep house
Eric Cantor.
kcewa on November 5, 2008 at 5:01 PM
There were plenty of people that got behind candidates that were more conservative than McCain, but the problem was we didn’t agree on a single candidate that was more conservative than McCain. He got the nomination because the conservatives split the conservative vote.
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Yes. We are just frustrated. I can’t believe I’ve been doing this all day. Last night I couldn’t watch the speeches or anything. I knew McCain would lose. I’m not even sure he would have been a good President. I’m not even sure Obama doesn’t have the potential for greatness in the long run but I just hate to go socialist.
I hope everything I think I know about Obama is false. I hope he is really a decent guy and will do what is best. I hope now that the Democrats have real power again they will use it more wisely than their retoric. Reality is always different than you plan. Maybe the economy is a good thing because there is just not much money to get from tax raising right now.
And by the way I blame this lousy economy on Barack Obama! Everything from now on even the weather is his fault.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Thank you. Tell me about him. We inherited another dem senator and a dem rep here in NM. Have no one to look to for leadership here. We have Bingaman for heaven’s sake.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Sarah, Tell me when you start your pac… I’ll throw some money your way gal..
Palinpuma on November 5, 2008 at 5:05 PM
I’m all for using the new technology yet Palin made her greatest gains by going directly to the people. Once the McCain handlers finally realized that Palin being Palin was the most effective counter to the Couric sleaze merchants it was too late for Palin to counter many of the smears made at her while she was ridiculously being tied down that first week after the convention. Technology has benefits but limits. Reagan wrote most of his speeches and notes by hand and the teleprompter may have been a convenience to him but probably not often a necessity. Reagan like Palin are who they are. By contrast, Obambi without a teleprompter is like Biden without lines lifted from Neil Kinnock.
viking01 on November 5, 2008 at 5:06 PM
I know. I blogged for 12 hours yesterday. I told myself I was done. Here I am.
We are on the same page, reading the same book. I will take your faith and double it that Obama is not going to ruin our great country, but we’ll see. Rahm Emanuel makes me doubt everything the “anti-christ” said to get elected.
The weather is bad here, windy, dusty. Damn you, Obama. Damn you.
We will join together, squabble like brothers and sisters, but at the end, we are brother and sister and we will fight for our country! Starting today.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:07 PM
Did you hear her say she compromised her conservative principles? It’s government, it’s impossible not to work with the other side at some point. Reagan worked with the other side but he stayed true to his principles. Most times when “moderates” work with the other side it’s because they have no principles to stand on. This election was not a rejection of conservatism, there was no conservative choice in the election except Palin and she couldn’t pull it out for mccain. If mccain had picked a crist or grahm it would have really been ugly. The Gingrich Revolution happened because the conservatives were loud and clear and gave a very obvious choice to the electorate. In 2006 the prior performance of the republicans in congress over the previous 6 years overroad any kind of verbal message they tried to get out and they got their butts kicked. Why would anyone not informed deeply about politics and government vote for the republicans when they act just like the democrats? Actually they act worse, they cower and apologize when attacked, often dishonestly, and the democrats fight back. If I only paid attention to politics for a month before every election, I’d probably vote for the democrats also.
peacenprosperity on November 5, 2008 at 5:09 PM
I can get behind that, HS. We do need to rebuild. My only caution is that we need to rebuild a new coalition, reaching out to both conservatives and moderates that have those same core ideals, but may be ‘questionable’ to a hard core base. An exclusionary GOP is dying; we need to look next at who to begin to include. I for one think Latinos are a huge possibility, if we can figure out how to make the immigration issue workable.
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 5:09 PM
You know she does have the raw talent. But she is a babe in the woods. And she doesn’t even seem fully formed on all the national issues. Hopefully her reputation is not permently ruined and she can be better informed next time. She could be our Obama in the future. We need to get past Reagan. This is a new day. Obama is the new Reagan and they have him. We need an answer.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Close the borders, control the borders, then amnesty, then connect with social issues and the Catholic church. Any devout Catholic should be a natural Republican. They come here for a better life. If we could really gain control over the borders the ones who are here would be a good catch for the party. It is just so galling that we let the borders be what they are for so long after 9/11.
petunia on November 5, 2008 at 5:13 PM
But don’t sell out your own ideals. That is all. As far as the hispanic vote, McCain wanted to give lawbreakers the world and what did that get him? We have a better chance of capturing the black vote when the hispanics start to hone in on their issues. I hate identity politics, though. We are all Americans.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Obama is the new carter…..
I hope
Palinpuma on November 5, 2008 at 5:13 PM
Unbelievable this advice could be given the day after the Grand Poobah of Bipartisanship got his as* kicked. Were you advising the McCain Campaign?
If you put the Reagan experience next to the McCain experience (and the Obama experience), you must conclude that you get Indies by bringing them to conservatism, not by dragging the party to them. Win by selling conservatism. (or, as Obama did, by selling liberalism). Centrists aren’t necessarily holding out for centrism. They are waiting to be persuaded.
We lost b/c Mac couldn’t sell conservatism and didn’t even try until the end.
james23 on November 5, 2008 at 5:14 PM
OK, if you want a male on the presidential ticket in ’12, he must have a full head of hair. think i’m kidding? and look to governors.
kelley in virginia on November 5, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Chris Buckley & Ron Reagan Jr.: Most effective birth control method to date.
As for Noonan, Buckley, Frum & Will: Good Riddance. You are dead to us.
Norwegian on November 5, 2008 at 5:14 PM
History has been on our side, petunia. A little time in the wilderness will do us good and eventually the “Answer” will become apparent.
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Sarah,
YOU are the reason I gave a shyte this year.
YOU are the reason I donated to a political campaign for the first time ever.
YOU are a “real person” – the kind we need more of in politics.
PLEASE, don’t change and don’t be “sorry” for anything.
RedNewEnglander on November 5, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Allahpundit: This kind of thinking is why we lost this election.
Norwegian on November 5, 2008 at 5:15 PM
We have wooed the Latino vote for 12 years now, and had little success, but lets keep at it someday it will work right? A Mexicanized Latino vote is never going to go Republican they trend too socialist. It will require a generation or two of indoctrination to American values, but they aren’t being required to adopt American values, so the Latino vote will continue to elude us.
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Come on, petunia. We were doing well. I agree with closing the border, but no amnesty for lawbreakers. If you do that, you will NEVER control those that will die to get here. Attrition thru enforcement. Stop giving them jobs, with e-verify, stop giving them welfare, they will go home and then we need to work on the immigration system. See who we need and who we don’t in our country.
If you give them amnesty, you will piss on men and women like my husband, who go out every day and night to protect this country and keep her secure.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:17 PM
I agree with AP’s 4 points.
Re: 1: Absolutely stay away from the Senate, at all costs, and avoid any party leadership role as well. Executive experience!
Re 2: Particularly study up, and be able to communicate, fundamental principles. Details are great, but knowing the chief executive of every rinky-dink little country matters little if you have no foundational principles to guide your decisions.
Re 3: Be smart about bipartisanship. Don’t jump across the aisle on any old issue, especially one which will enrage your conservative base.
Re 4: Yes! But don’t become just another talking head.
Jezla on November 5, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Here here! I too hate identity politics. The reason I bring up hispanics is 1), they tend to be very conservative, and would be far more comfortable in the republican party if the immigration issue gets resolved. 2) they are the fastest growing minority group in the country, and are becoming a huge force to be reckoned with.
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 5:18 PM
Copied from weekly standard and wikipedia on Eric Cantor.
“Cantor is the highest ranking Jewish Republican in Congress” Strong defender of Israel cosponsoring legislation that would cut off all U.S. taxpayer aid to the Palestinian Authority and another bill calling for an end to taxpayer aid to the Palestinians until they stop unauthorized excavations on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.[4
“Cantor is a small-government conservative. “I don’t think we came to Washington to fix everybody’s problems…He believes Republicans stumbled badly in recent years. “Our fiscal brand–we lost that,” he says. “Sixty percent of America is with us in believing in a Main Street, common-sense conservatism….
“We do a very poor job of selling our ideas,” Cantor told me. “We’ve got to get better at connecting our solutions to the problems people face.” Worse, many of their ideas are stale. “There’s a tendency for those inside the Beltway to look at the established sources of ideas,” chiefly the Washington think tanks, he argues. “I want to talk to people in the real world.” (he did support the bailout – he later aplologized for that vote).
And saved the best for last: “In the 2002 election, Cantor defeated Democratic opponent Ben “Cooter” Jones, who starred on the popular TV series The Dukes of Hazzard”
kcewa on November 5, 2008 at 5:19 PM
I don’t get this “gentile” stuff, are you being funny or sarcastic?
Or just plain stupid.
right2bright on November 5, 2008 at 5:19 PM
They trend conservative? Is that why they have a socialist party in Mexico? Obama goes to church, and has a family that he is actually involved with so does that make him a conservative?
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 5:22 PM
There was no real indication that McCain was for smaller gov. Maybe against earmarks, but not smaller gov., I never remember him standing up in the senate and fighting for a smaller government.
right2bright on November 5, 2008 at 5:23 PM
I think this is a moment in time that Republicans should take a time out from criticizing each other or have their daggers drawn ready to slice each other open.There will be plenty of time for that in 2-4 years. Instead Republicans should take a step back and reflect on where they have been and then where they want to go. This should involve an intense self-examination within the party as to why the Republican turnout was not better, because that is really the bottom line in politics, isn’t it?
technopeasant on November 5, 2008 at 5:24 PM
Romney–yeah, just what the party needs, a big government Republican! May as well nominate Jeb if you want still another Big Gov’t Republican.
james23 on November 5, 2008 at 5:25 PM
I have to agree with the general sentiment regarding this silly idea of bipartisanship. The key to bipartisanship is to engage on your terms, not when it compromises your core principals.
Dritanian on November 5, 2008 at 5:26 PM
I believe there are 2 sides to identity politics. The worst kind is to cater your programs to satisfy one particular group. The flip side is to try to gauge what a particular group is thinking or believing at a particular time in history. The former is pandering; the latter is prudent.
technopeasant on November 5, 2008 at 5:26 PM
I loved Cooter on the Dukes of Hazzard. Thanks Kcewa. Will do my homework on Cantor and others.
HornetSting on November 5, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Romney–yeah, just what the party needs, a big government Republican!
Romnety doesn’t have to be a big gov’t republican. He’s flexible.
kcewa on November 5, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Energy.
Taxes.
Freedom.
That’s where we need agreement. That’s where we can find a common ground that can be the basis of the next political push via the GOP.
Three points.
It’s not all-inclusive, for sure. But it is the basis where I sure as hell hope all of us who go right can forge ahead.
Gov. Palin has the potential to develop into the proper messenger in 2012. Others also have it.
Don’t give up the ship.
either orr on November 5, 2008 at 5:28 PM
No this is the perfect time to pull out razors. Occam’s Razor and pare away the elements that just don’t work, or we can just repeat the last two elections. I’m not here to attack anybody but I am hearing a lot of rhetoric that doesn’t stand up to reasoning.
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 5:28 PM
They trend conservative? Is that why they have a socialist party in Mexico? Obama goes to church, and has a family that he is actually involved with so does that make him a conservative?
DFCtomm on November 5, 2008 at 5:22 PM
We have a socialist party in the US. Does that make us any less center-right as a people?
http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/October/20071011113828esnamfuak0.9106256.html
What exactly is a conservative, DFC?
trailboss on November 5, 2008 at 5:30 PM
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