Quotes of the day
posted at 10:35 pm on April 16, 2009 by Allahpundit
“I don’t know about 2012. I think she is a standard bearer right now. She and Mitt Romney and Governor Pawlenty, Governor Sanford, Rudy Giuliani, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence. We have a significant number of men and women in our party who are in a very good position right now to carry forward the standard of the GOP.”
***
“Palin’s campaign antics can be forgiven. What can’t be forgiven is the ham-handed way she’s tried to build her national profile since she returned to Alaska. She’s abandoned the bold right-left populism that won over Alaska voters—and me—in the first place in favor of an increasingly defensive and harsh partisanship. After making her name as a determined enemy of Alaska’s corrupt Republican establishment, she recently called for Democratic Sen. Mark Begich to step down so the hilariously crooked Ted Stevens could get another crack at the seat. She loudly promised to leave federal stimulus money on the table before clawing that promise back with a whimper. One can’t help but get the impression that Palin is a clownish, vindictive amateur…
What I’m wondering is: Has Sarah Palin undergone some kind of secret lobotomy?”
Blowback
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Oh yea, and some of these comments are pretty lame.
scalleywag on April 17, 2009 at 9:51 AM
You forgot to disclaim yourself. Here, I’ll take care of it for you.
Moby Comment Alert!
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Thank you for your great contribution.
This is a defense based on principle to defend Palin that I can agree with. I don’t like the Palin supporters who are zombified anymore than Obama supporters who are blind to anything except his person, and therefore are willing to accept anything, including being betrayed. But in Palin’s case it is obvious that the MSM and the Rockefellers are after her.
If you’ve let the media determine your opinion of Palin then you are a fool. The media attempts to pick winners and losers, they are owned by the same monopolistic corporations that are managed/owned by the most extreme radicals you can imagine, corporatist radicals that don’t believe in free markets, but believe in socialism for us and riches for them. If the media has determined your attitude towards Palin, then people of a conservative/libertarian nature have reason to question your intelligence. Your simply contributing to the demise of anyone that you deem acceptable because the media will eventually try to get them too. It’s ok to not support Palin, I don’t myself, but it’s not ok to be led around by the nose by the MSM. They harbor ill will towards Palin and Christians and your simply helping them.
I’m not a Palin fan, but the principle that Maverick Muse is explaining is without refutation. Who can deny that what this site has done has contributed to the damage of the Palin name? No one. It is self-evident.
The Republican party is dead, and it’s because it has been retaken by the Rockefeller Republican wing. Nixon/Bush big government Republicans now rule the day. They now offer no meaningful alternative since they too support the move towards one world currency and government. They scornfully laugh because they think you have no alternative. You do, but they’ve led you to believe that an alternative doesn’t have a chance.
True_King on April 17, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Thank you for you response.
True_King on April 17, 2009 at 10:09 AM
You’re quite welcome my defeatist friend and fellow Christian.
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Stop polluting this site RWY.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:16 AM
First let us dismiss the notion that Sarah is not a superstar.
If you watch sports long enough, you recognize the presence and performance of superstars when you see it; it’s called the smell test.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson showed on Sunday at the Masters why they are considered golfing superstars; that neither won the Masters was a result of his performance on the first 3 days and not the final day.
For me, Sarah Palin’s speech last night passed the smell test. It was like she had never left the campaign trail. Sarah is the real McCoy, a full-fledged shooting star in a constellation of traditional GOP politicians. The power and fundraising ability of Sarah will be hard to overcome.
Can she be beaten in the GOP primaries in 2012? Sure. But I wouldn’t bet my house on it and neither should you.
technopeasant on April 17, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Me too. She has been on the national stage since August of last year. I see no improvement. Plus she is still whining about Couric, the clothes and Fey. She comes out and says a couple cliche phrases about big government. That’s not good enough. As you said, we need somebody who is outstanding.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:20 AM
technopeasant
Her speech consisted of two parts: 1) Alaska travel guide and 2) Trig’s story. Nothing outstanding, thought provoking.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Just out of curiosity, who do you like in 12?
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 10:31 AM
“What I’m wondering is: Has Sarah Palin undergone some kind of secret lobotomy?”
Allah -
We wonder the same thing about you.
Palin attracts a crowd that’s so great they have to close some streets in Evansville and use closed circuit telecast to an overflow hall and you post some negative news from your wannabe girlfriend’s favorite blog, The Beast.
Why Michelle Malkin keeps you around is a mystery to me.
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Chekote hates Sarah Palin because:
1. Sarah is pro-life and Chekote hangs out at abortion clinics for kicks.
2. Sarah Palin is more woman than Chekote ever dreamed she could be.
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Go away BC! Nah…. actually like you.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:40 AM
hawkdriver
I like Sanford. I think Perry is on to something with the 10th amendment. Kasich is outstanding. Who do you like?
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:41 AM
A lot of “Conservatives” are starting this mantra of, “We need someone truly outstanding!”.
The media will pound anyone we put forward. Who do these “Conservatives” think will be so great that they’ll be impervious to the media? The bottom line for me is we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and stick together. I am at the point where I mistrust anyone that is so invested in any one of the possible contenders that they feel the need to bash the others.They do the lefts work for them. (Or something else is going on.)
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Interesting. Thanks for the response.
I like in this order.
Romney. Sanford. DeMint. Palin. Jindal. Thompson (He’s only low on the list because I don’t think his heart is really in it) JC Watts needs to get his ass back into politics too.
Really, the only guy I’d stay home for is Ron Paul.
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 10:47 AM
hawkdriver
I am not backing any candidate. I am just saying that Palin still has not proven that she is ready for the national stage. I have yet to see her give an in depth interview about the US economy. All I have seen, his Trig’s story, how great Alaska is, developing oil and gas to feed the “hungry” markets in the lower 48, and a couple of cliche phrases about big government. Nothing of substance so far.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:48 AM
You’re right hawkdriver. The media will actively try to destroy any and all conservatives who represent a threat. That why we should be happy when someone like CNN’s Ugly Susan is as blatently biased as she was at the Chicago Tea Party. We need to discredit MSM as much as possible between now and 2012. Whomever the GOP standard-bearer is, they will work to destroy him/her.
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Romney is phony. You can never be sure what he stands for. Palins is unprepared. They rest are fine with me.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:23 AM
If you have not seen any improvement in Sarah’s performance over the last 7 months you are either blind, stupid or a Fascist.
Not seeing any improvement in Sarah’s performance since the her debate with Biden is like saying you haven’t seen any progression in Tiger Woods’ performances since he returned to the world of golf at the end of February.
To deny Sarah is a political superstar is disingenuous and futile. Very few personalities in any walk of life become more popular after a forced absence of several months shunning the spotlight without any PR spin in the interim.
And to further deny that Trig’s story and her decision to have him is not ‘thought-provoking’ to many women placed in the same situation is dismissive and to discount Sarah calling Obama out on his purpose to enslave America throught the stimulus bill as less than outstanding or politically significant, especially with the emergence of the tea parties and Obama’s true ideological radical socialist nature being exposed for all to see, is an example of intellectual dishonesty or a function of seeing America only through the lens of a totalitarian savor, a bureaucratic gold mine or kids in a candy store.
technopeasant on April 17, 2009 at 10:49 AM
I saw the video and thought Sarah was very informative about Alaska. I learnt things I never knew before. I live in Australia and the ways she describes Alaska reminds me of vast tracts of Australia. Natural pristine environments.
And what was the purpose of this event? I think she strayed from the reason why she was there in the first place and got into politicking at times.
I do agree that it wasn’t a good idea to bring up the 2008 election campaign again. Why give the MSM and the Dems more ammunition?
Crux Australis on April 17, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Chekote -
It was a Right to Life dinner so Trig’s story was very appropriate. By the way, were you protesting Palin and the pro-life movement outside the hall last night?
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Whomever the GOP standard-bearer is, they will work to destroy him/her.
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 10:48 AM
BC, they have been doing that for decades. Back in the Nixon, Reagan days we didn’t even have the Internet, Fox News, talk radio. Yet they were able to succeed. Palin self-destructed because she was not ready. She is still not ready. It has been months since she came on the national scene and she still can’t talk about the issues in a in depth manner. If she doesn’t improve it means that she is intellectually lazy. She will not make it. Trig’s story is going to get boring. If it isn’t already.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:53 AM
techno
Britney Spears is a superstar. That doesn’t make her a talented singer. Palin is the same. She has star quality but no depth.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 10:56 AM
I was getting ready to say I was agreeing with you a bit and then you threw me there. How is Romney a phony? Didn’t you just decry that Palin hasn’t changed. If Romney has done anything, he’s moved steadily back to the right. Do you think that’s phony or not like the direction he’s moving?
I listen anytime he’s on a show and he is a true statesman. He is articulate and knows government and finance. He’s successful in the private sector and in his time as Governor.
My impression too.
hawkdriver on April 17, 2009 at 10:58 AM
BC
I told you many times that I could not care less whether Palin had Trig or not. It is her choice. I do wish she would stop saying that down syndrome is a blessing. The child of a good friend of mine has been diagnosed with autism. I don’t consider that a blessing or a curse. It happens and you make the most of it.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 11:01 AM
There’s a context for everything. She went to a pro-life dinner and had to give a pro-life speech. She gave one. She wasn’t there to discuss national economy. She told Trig’s story because it was appropriate for the night. It’s amazing that even in such a restricted arena, she was able to fit in so many criticism of Obama–on missile defence, on stimulus etc.
Before shooting of your mouth, maybe you should get the facts right.
BTW, why isn’t Hot Air posting a video of her speech?
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 11:03 AM
hawk
Romney is smart, articulate, knowledgeable. But he has no political compass. If tomorrow pro-choice is a winning issue in the GOP primary, Romney will flip again. Also, he is a big government guy. We need to get rid of big government Republicans.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 11:03 AM
She never said Down Syndrome is a blessing. She said the child even with the Downs Syndrome is a blessing. I don’t think such nuances are will enter your head.
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 11:05 AM
We are keeping an eye on North Korea, that’s a policy statement. What depth!
I agree. It was a pro-life dinner. So the story of Trig was appropriate. But I would have preferred a speech about where the pro-life movement find itself. How much progress has been made or not made. About the HLA, about the recent defeats ballot initiatives banning abortion. How to reduce the number of abortions. Birth control. Teenage pregnancy. You could have had a very deep discussion about the issue of life. Instead, she gave the boiler plate pro-life speech. Every life is precious. Every life has purpose. Children are blessing. The Declaration of Independence. The only difference was Trig’s story. Again, no depth. Nothing outstanding.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 11:09 AM
So sick of the Palin bashing here, instigated by AP and the many trolls who now occupy Hot Air. So much for independent conservative thought. This is as boring and tedious as any lefty blog. C.YA.
Buckeye Babe on April 17, 2009 at 11:09 AM
No depth? Based on what?
She was a pretty revolutionary state governor who within short period of time brought many changes in her state’s political machine.
She then was chosen as a VP nominee where her job was to take the message of the presidential ticket to the people, not develop policy prescriptions of her own. Good god man, she was excoriated even when she deviated slightly from the Mccain script. Remember when she said she wanted to campaign in Michigan and the lefties circulated a meme that she was going rogue.
After the elction, she went back to her state shunning national spotlight.
Last night, she gave a speech at pro-life dinner because she that’s one of her basic values just as attending to the cause of special needs children is.
She hasn’t said she’s running for the presidency. She doesn’t even seek to be the leader of the party. She has shunned party gigs like NRSC.
Within her purview as a governor, she brought radical change and she is still acting within that purview.
Those of us who support her see enormous potential in her based on her record, her personality and her eloquence. It doesn’t mean that potential is being actualized right now. We are waiting for the right time. When the time comes and she doesn’t deliver, or if a more promising candidate arrives, we’ll back that candidate.
When and if she seeks higher office, you can ask her for policy positions etc and get them and make your judgment based on it.
Till then shut your mouth about “being unprepared”, “lack of depth” etc. You’ve spammed enough threads already.
Again, I must remind you Reagan’s eleventh commandment. When the primaries for 2012 or 2016 happen, you have ample chance to back a candidate of your own who will have ample chance to beat Sarah, if she’s running. Till then, there’s no need to tear down a conservative voice who is working for our side, taking a beating for it and who has the potential, yes potential, to lead us out of wilderness.
It’s one thing to factually discuss your expectations or her shortcomings, like for example, crux australis has done in this thread. It’s another thing to go trolling and beating her down when it’s not called for.
I have gone to such lengths to reply because I am trying to rationally argue with you, assuming you’re not another pooptech or the wall. Now, if you go trolling again, we’ll reply in kind.
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Claps my hands
Excellent post, my hat is off to you
husker3000 on April 17, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Chekote -
Did you see CNN’s Ugly Susan at the Chicago Tea Party? Are you going to tell me that a reporter would have been that “in your face” in the 1960′s?
In the 1960′s the media was not as openly biased against the GOP as it has been in recent years. Barry Goldwater’s VP choice was William Miller, an obscure congressman from upstate New York. Did the media send dozens of investigative reporters to his area to get all the dirt on him that they could?
You can bet that a Soros-funded group (Media Matters, etc.) has been or will be building a dossier on every prospective 2012 GOP nominee. If it’s Jindal, the media will hype the exorcism, if it’s Stafford, they will find a great uncle who was in the Klan.
In the media coverage, when did they discuss Palin’s record as governor? When did they mention that she had the highest favorable rating of any governor? Never.
Like you, they feel she is a pro-life woman so she must be destroyed.
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Chekote -
Anyone who follows you on any website (HotAir, Polipundit, New Majority, BeJohnGalt) realizes you have one huge overriding issue that drives you – ABORTION!
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Palintologists… the Right’s own cult of victimhood.
JohnGalt23 on April 17, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Again, those who say she has no policy experience are playing fools or are ignorant of record.
As a governor she brought two detailed policy changes which are extensive and revolutionary: AGIA and ACES. Again,a political leader doesn’t craft an entire policy position. He/she hires legal /policy experts; they lay down their basic philosophy and then let the team come up with a comprehensive solution; a political leader’s main job is to sell it and make sure it’s actualized.
Again, Sarah has done this with ACES and AGIA. If you want to know her policy chops as a governor, start researching there. Yes, it’s just statewide but she’s just a governor.
When she decides to run for President, she will do the same thing as she did as a governor. She will hire a team and lay down her thinking and where she wants to go and what she wants to do and let them come up with a boquet of ideas which then will be finetuned and pushed. When her stated positions become clear, you can examine them to your heart’s content.
Those of you who are criticizing her for lack of policy details are in the same boat as Reihan Salams and unknown GOP staffers who blab onto media on how she is doing wrong things to build a national profile. Your criticism is premature.
She isn’t building a national profile and she isn’t gonna offer policy until she throws her hat into the ring. That’s not required. There’s no evidence that she has even decided to run for 2012, or for re-election to her state, or get out of politics altogether. When she makes her intentions clear, you can start judging her by the appropriate standard. Until then, just stfu.
Romney spent close two years after his governorship on polishing his run and I don’t remember discussing policy details either, because he was stopped in a primary. He was as general as Palin is now. Obama spent his entire senate career running for higher office and he didn’t develop any policy ideas either till late in the game. And you expect Palin to offer policy details while running a state when she hasn’t even decided to run? You don’t even give her time to tour the country, meet the right people, understand issues and develop her ideas? You just want her to be running a campaign from 4 years beforehand? Nuts.
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 12:02 PM
BC
I agree. The media is not fair. We all know that. We need leaders who can get around the media. Not people who give them fodder. Did you watch the Palin speech last night? It is the same old, same old. How about an in depth policy discussion about the pro-life issue as a political movements. How much progress has been achieved in 37 years? What direction should the pro-life movement take? It could have been a very interesting, thought provoking speech. Instead, it was boiler plate. The story of Trig is touching but it is not what I would call depth.
BTW, what are you doing contributing to a Ayn Rand inspired blog? Are you aware of Rand’s position on abortion and religion.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:10 PM
promachus
Palin is a good governor. She has a good record. So does Perry, Jindal, Barbour, Pawlenty, Sanford. So what?
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:12 PM
promachus
You are making my point that a lot of Palinistas are just like Obamadrones. It is a cult of personality. You support her even though she hasn’t provide any policy details. What is your support based on?
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Please point to another “boiler plate pro-life speech” by a prominent political leader that alludes, in a dramatic and vulnerable way, to understanding why some women make the choice for abortion.
Palin talked about what it was like for her to find herself pregnant later in life. She mentioned the thought processes of “get it taken care of” and the challenges when she had the amniocentesis and learned about the abnormality.
I don’t remember anybody else who is strongly pro-life standing up in the public eye and sharing this thought in such a candid manner.
Do you?
cs89 on April 17, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Sure I like Sarah’s personality and believe that she has superstar charisma. But it is what Sarah believes and how she states that belief in a cogent and eloquent rational argument is why I am a bigger Sarah backer.
To put it another way if Sarah did not support the ‘natural rights of man’ I would not support her and neither would millions of Americans. That she does does not mean she deserves our unconditional support but it does mean she does deserve our political consideration when narrowing our choices of whom we will eventually support in the primaries as the GOP Presidential standardbearer in 2012.
technopeasant on April 17, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I support her just as I support Jindal, Perry and other good people of our side. She’s a prominent young talented leader from our side. I support her based on her potential and want to dearly see that potential realized. I want to help as much as I can, especially make sure she is not nipped before she blooms. I believe that such a talent should be encouraged and nurtured and that’s what I’m doing. I want to make sure she is prepared for the Big Test but that’s 4 or 8 years away and meanwhile, I want to make sure her path to preparation is easier, see that she doesn’t face any friendly fire when the enemy is bad enough. I am not supporting a President Palin. I am supporting a Governor palin who I hope will eventually become President, the kind of President I want. I support her because based on her record as a governor, her performance on the stump, at RNC, yesterday, I see her as having very good potential to take down Obama.
She’s already given me what I need from her. She’s shown that she’s not afraid to hit Obama and take him down unlike the other GOP governors who are playing kumbaya.
If tomorrow she comes and says we shouldnt’ be fighting a war against jihadists or appease them somehow, I’ll dump her the next instant. So far, she hasn’t said anything stupid, no dealbreaker for me. Clear?
Now, please retire that wretched cultist tag, if you are even remotely a honest person.
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 12:29 PM
The problem with Obama cultists was not that he didn’t offer policy ideas– he did. He said he’d take troops out of Iraq, reduce nuclear arsenal etc etc. The problem with them was that they drowned in the I’ll make the oceans recede rhetoric.
We are not asking for Governor Palin to turn back the oceans. Neither do we believe that her presidency will bring an isntant nirvana or a permanent paradise. OK?
We are not cultists. We are supporters who have seen her being defamed unfairly and want to do our bit to make sure truth is out there for those who want to pursue it.
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 12:33 PM
I don’t remember anybody else who is strongly pro-life standing up in the public eye and sharing this thought in such a candid manner.
Do you?
cs89 on April 17, 2009 at 12:24 PM
What Sarah did was candid, touching, moving. But it has no depth. The one think that I will give her credit for illustrating that abortion is not an easy decision. That even pro-life people consider it when faced with challenges. I wish the pro-life movement would take a clue from her and stop this nonsense that every woman that has an abortion is some kind of rabid killer who can’t wait to get to the abortion clinic.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:38 PM
how she states that belief in a cogent and eloquent rational argument
I don’t see that at all. Sometimes her sentences are as mangled as W’s.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM
I mean the one thing…..
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:41 PM
chekote,
Show me one example of what you call “depth” in a pro life speech before a non-technical audience, on a non-partisan event.
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Promachus
I can’t think of any. The pro-life movement is stuck with the same old, tactics, strategies that have led to nowhere. I mean, what has been achieved in 37 years? Not much.
Chekote on April 17, 2009 at 12:53 PM
That’s rich. Then why are you hitting the poor woman for?
promachus on April 17, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Awesome, awesome speech. Bascially ensured her caucus victory in Iowa in January 2012 if she chooses to run.
Norwegian on April 17, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Much pro-life material actually appears pretty understanding of the pressures that can lead to an abortion, IMO.
The “rabid killers” kind of terminology is usually reserved for Planned Parenthood, politicians who shoot down parental notification laws with questionable arguments, etc.
cs89 on April 17, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Um, about fifty million deaths?
Snowed In on April 17, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Hummm…
Palin gives a fantastic speech, and unless I’m blind, all hotair can do is highlight the negatives about her.
I don’t mind her faults being pointed out, but if that is all hotair is going to do, without printing the good, I guess this place is no better than huffpo or DU.
Wanders back over to Michelle’s site
husker3000 on April 17, 2009 at 2:09 PM
There’s no reason for Allah to move to the Daily Kos, where he’d probably be a better fit. Markos Moulitsas knows Allah can do a lot more damage to the conservative movement at hotair.com.
bw222 on April 17, 2009 at 2:59 PM
When we start believing that the Daily Beast (the official Meghan McCain site) holds any credibility whatsoever, we are in deep do-do. Suspect the author is a “seminar caller” type of guy: “I am a long time conservative, but I voted for Obama!” Yeah right!
Christian Conservative on April 17, 2009 at 3:42 PM
I’m done with Obama! He’s abandoned the bold far-left populism that won over the voters—and me—in the first place in favor of an increasingly defensive and harsh partisanship. One can’t help but get the impression that Obama is a clownish, vindictive amateur… not to mention the clownish, clownish Biden. And I had such high hopes for them….sighhhhh.
littleguy on April 17, 2009 at 6:51 PM
How cold-hearted and soulless are you, Chekote?
“Same old tactics and strategies that have led to nowhere?”
Do you mean pointing out the fact that abortion is murder?
I’m happy to report that we who defend the unborn saw the passage of the Partial Birth Abortion (an abomination no matter who you are and what you believe) ban under President Bush.
And until Obama changed it, federal funding was prohibited for stem cell research that required the killing of new embryos.
And the 50 states are now passing more and more legislation that deters abortion on demand like requiring the mother to have a sonogram 24 hours before her scheduled abortion, new state laws requiring parental consent for minors to have abortions and “conscience” laws for doctors and pharmacists to refuse to dole out the “morning after” pill.
Americans are growing sick of Roe v. Wade and abortion on demand up until the very moment of birth without parental consent.
You infanticide lovers like to say that the Pro-Life movement hasn’t made any inroads, but they have–Praise the Lord!
I pray that someday we can change America back to promoting a Culture of Life instead of the Culture of Death we have now.
Jenfidel on April 17, 2009 at 6:59 PM
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