Senior White House official gloats: “We’re 2-0 against Palin” now
posted at 7:18 pm on November 4, 2009 by Allahpundit
Since Axelrod’s been all over the place today, I’m going to assume he’s Tapper’s source here. In which case, how interesting that he chose to offer this particular bon mot anonymously.
To paraphrase Limbaugh, she’s living rent-free in their heads.
When Vice President Joe Biden went to upstate New York to campaign for Democrat Bill Owens on Monday, he took a risk.
Instead of campaigning in a low-key way, emphasizing local issues and Owens’ strengths, Biden picked up the gauntlet thrown down by national Republican figures such as Sarah Palin and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and conservative pundits such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, and agreed that the special House race was of national relevance…
“We’re 2-0 against Palin,” a senior administration official says. “The Vice President went in and took on Governor Palin and the other national Republicans who had gotten involved in the race and the White House is sure happy that Owens pulled out that win.”
“Biden campaigned on Palin/Beck/Rush because ‘Dem accomplishments’ didn’t fly,” counters S.E. Cupp, drily. Help me figure something out here: The Palin-centric read on NY-23 is all over the media today, no doubt to let the left make the case that she’s political poison. But if she’s the kiss of death, whose entry into a race can be counted on to send the silent majority fleeing into the arms of the Democrats, why’d Team Barry go to such lengths themselves to try to beat Hoffman? Obama attended a fundraiser for Owens; the vice president showed up for an eleventh-hour rally in the district; and they worked every connection they could to flip Scozzafava, leaving the nominees of both major parties aligned against the conservative. That’s a lot of effort to narrowly defeat someone who’d supposedly already received the coup de grace from Palin. But don’t look for logic on this subject: NBC’s own Palin-centric spin on the race mocks Sarahcuda and other top Republicans for backing a guy who was, it’s true, a terrible retail politician — even though they came thisclose to pushing him over the top.
Here’s Fred Thompson, another true conservative who invested a lot more than Palin did in the race, putting a happy face on the outcome.
Blowback
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Death Panels.
BadgerHawk on November 4, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Is it me of does Fred look much better than when he ran for office in 2008? Did he have a facelift or something?
promachus on November 4, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Palin endorses Hoffman on her facebook. 45%
VP Biden shows up in Ny-23 and gives a stump speech. 49%
Yes. It’s the same thing.
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 7:21 PM
Yeah and Sarah did only ONE facebook post. Just one.
promachus on November 4, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Is this source forgetting the campaigning that Palin did for Chamblis? At best they are 2-1, but it is really sad that some advisor to the president is so insecure that he/she even has this thought process going on.
myrenovations on November 4, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Did I read that right? By Allah I think I did!
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Against a woman who at this point is a private citizen, a “never-was/has-been”….hmmm, ok.
beachgirlusa on November 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM
The beard makes him twice as evil and twice as awesome.
lorien1973 on November 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM
The President of the United States at war with housewife on Facebook. Afghanistan and Iran, not so much.
Caper29 on November 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.
unclesmrgol on November 4, 2009 at 7:23 PM
It’s the goatee. Every man on the planet should grow one in my opinion.
RepubChica on November 4, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Palin should have met them on the ground. We will see in 2010 what the tally against Palin will be after the midterms. She made a nobody in Hoffman into a person the White House went all out to beat, with a Facebook note. Imagine what she’ll be able to do when she gets on the ground and campaigns.
milemarker2020 on November 4, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Hey, you barely beat a third party candidate without the support of the RNC infrastructure. Good job! Have a cookie.
/eyeroll
TheUnrepentantGeek on November 4, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Sarah Palin the Irrelevant Private Citizen merits an official White House scoreboard? They are pathetic.
Missy on November 4, 2009 at 7:25 PM
ahh no. Some men look just fine shaved. I don’t care for fu man chuey facial hair.
And some men look awesome stubbly and such.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:25 PM
whose
John the Libertarian on November 4, 2009 at 7:25 PM
By the same logic, the filthy lying coward in the White House is 0-2 against the GOP in the same election. Is the White House really gloating that Biden was the only successful one last night?
highhopes on November 4, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Now how about scoring some points against the terrorists?
Barry?……….Barry, are you there?
ThePrez on November 4, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Interesting the White House seems to forget their hand picked,groomed,millionaire lib that they campaigned for 6 times John Corzine’s crash & burn.
America +2
Obama 0
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Umm. She also endorsed McDonnell and Christie. Wouldn’t that make it it 2-2. Also, the One was “not on the ballot” in NJ and VA, but she was in NY-23??
ConservativePartyNow on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
By jove, I think he’s got it!
beachgirlusa on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
What what , they planed to postpone Obamacare to 2010…
the_nile on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Meanwhile, Osama Obama was playing kissy-face with the never-popular Jon Corzine. How’d that work out for ya, Mr Soetoro?
MrScribbler on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
Glad to know that maturity rules the day for Mr. O and his staff. If they don’t care what she thinks, they should really shut up about her.
CantCureStupid on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
A hairy happy face at that!
Weight of Glory on November 4, 2009 at 7:27 PM
i love how she has turned this whole “blogging in basements” thing around and is beating them at their own game….
alexraye on November 4, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Obama stumps for Corzine twice, and holds a fundraiser: 46 %
Christie: 49%
John the Libertarian on November 4, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Heh! Well said, AP.
It’s funny because it’s true. A private citizen in Wasilla helps derailing ObamaCare and sends an obscure 3rd Party candidate to near victory in a district Obama carried, all from FaceBook.
No wonder they’re obsessed with her.
Norwegian on November 4, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Governor Palin campaigned more for the Governor of Virginia than she did Hoffman.
Governor of Virginia-Mentioned on Facebook, created robocall recordings.
Hoffman-Mentioned on Facebook.
And yet, they’re focusing on Hoffman–which, overall, was a win because the liberal Republican was knocked out. Getting him elected would have just been icing.
Enoxo on November 4, 2009 at 7:28 PM
They used to have a Sarah Palin dart board but they had to take it down because Joe Biden kept trying to talk to it.
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Dude.
promachus on November 4, 2009 at 7:29 PM
All Palin did was endorse Hoffman on Facebook (!!!) and got a 13% Hoffman to a nearly 50% reach.
The democrats spent time and millions to get Owens elected.
The White House is more pathetic than I thought, and they are in gutter-level of pathetic.
Palin is on the brain of these liberals and they are scared to death of her. If she is such a loser as they claim, why do they obsess over her?
cubachi on November 4, 2009 at 7:30 PM
This is why I love HotAir…despite everything I can always count on somebody coming up with a saying as hilarious as this – every day, without fail.
Dark-Star on November 4, 2009 at 7:31 PM
That’s funny, because Obama is 0-2 in Governorships he campaigned for personally.
BKennedy on November 4, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Yep. And he won by the biggest margin, and is probably the most conservative (fiscally and socially) of the three.
Missy on November 4, 2009 at 7:32 PM
LOL
beachgirlusa on November 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM
-Palin from facebook says “death panels” and nukes the entire health care debate for a month.
-Palin from facebook endorses Hoffman and the VP is dispatched and Scuzzy is forced to flip and the RNC cries uncle.
She’s just sitting in a treestand, picking off the bucks, aint she?
Weight of Glory on November 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM
It’s impressive that the most powerful administration on earth can beat Palin , sometimes.
the_nile on November 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Ain’t that the truth!
ncborn on November 4, 2009 at 7:33 PM
So their main rival is a private citizen with a Facebook account?
echosyst on November 4, 2009 at 7:34 PM
I would like to know what Dede got from Rahm to endorse Owen.
the_nile on November 4, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Major Garrett just said that there were 150? Dem operatives on the ground in NY-23, under the direction of dear leader Pelosi…so how many R operatives?
r keller on November 4, 2009 at 7:34 PM
They really got it for Sarah … That alone would make it a heck of a race.
tarpon on November 4, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Um, didn’t Gov. Palin endorse two other candidates who won? How to square that circle Mr. Anonyrod?
NoLeftTurn on November 4, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Joe Caps on November 4, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Keep gloating. That’s good.
rrpjr on November 4, 2009 at 7:35 PM
p.s. one of my concerns from the get go re: Hoffman was that the conservative party of NY has no organization to it (look at their website for county chairmen)
r keller on November 4, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Meanwhile, Obama’s cheerleader Corzine went down to defeat in a Blue State.
Speedwagon82 on November 4, 2009 at 7:36 PM
If Palin had put boots on the ground Hoffman would have won by a landside………..
1luckydogg on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 PM
An endorsement for 2010 to run as a Dem…
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 PM
OBAMA 2 – America 0… I mean negative- $11,890,011,235,982
Indian Outlaw on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 PM
A
Dead FishEntire side of beef??With gravy???
BigWyo on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 PM
To discern where the threat is only takes the focus. The fact is that VA was a state touted big-time by the Dems as being a signal of their mandate.
That’s gone. Palin is just useful. Everyone loves to dish on her. *haha
AnninCA on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Funny how they never mention Mitt Romney.
Cicero43 on November 4, 2009 at 7:37 PM
Sadly, that sums it up. We are in the middle of a soap opera – An American Tragedy starring Barack Obama.
sherry on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
as you and I would love that. The only thing in NY is milk… and boy do they like to milk it.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Palin did her job. She outed an out and out liberal disgused as a moderate. Owen has one year before a strong conservative sends him packing. If the economy and jobs are still a major issue in six months the whole democratic party won’t have enough of Obama’s “magic” to keep them from joining the unemployment lines. This is just the beginning of the purge.
Rovin on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Instead of just asking a dozen stupid chairmen for NY-23 to select a nominee, why didn’t they poll all their members and nominate that person?
Speedwagon82 on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
I really believe the theory that voters at the congressional level want to hear about mainly local issues weaved into a national agenda that shows it will help their given district. Political “stars” seem like a double edged sword in that they also can motivate the opposition.
A good candidate with a solid message trumps everything.
jjshaka on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Your hand-picked candidate beat an unknown who was endorsed by Palin a week before the election.
By 4 points.
Yeah, I’d savor that victory.
Chris of Rights on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Arguably the “moderate” won the NY-23rd, with the departuure of Scozzofava the WH lost it’s ideological soul-mate. If the “R” can be counted on to consistently vote with the “D” caucus that is would be the true WH victory in the race as it bolsters their ostensible bi-partisan creds.
I’ll welcome Owens as a non-threatening seat warmer as an opportunity to rally our forces in prep for the re-match just a year down the road.
We dodged a bullet in the NY-23rd, bought some to time fortify and reconstitute sans the sabatouers in our ranks. The RNC apparatchiks.
Archimedes on November 4, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Yeah, I’m sure Sarah’s really chastised by that comment, Axelrod. Sure.
Yawn.
Bob's Kid on November 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Palin is utterly unimportant!!!
And tonight Olbermann will devote 3/4 of his show to her just to tell us how irrelevant she is.
Ampersand on November 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
OT but …
Does anybody know where Allahpundit was last night?
(just kidding – I know AP was playing with the humpbot)
platypus on November 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Yuk it up, clowns. The last time I looked you are batting 0.000 against the Norks, Iran and Russia, just to name a few. That’s the Big Leagues, kiddies!
ya2daup on November 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Heh. It’s less impressive when you consider Scozzafava, not Owens, was her target in round two.
BadgerHawk on November 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
Well , there’s the occasional puff piece in Huffpost.
the_nile on November 4, 2009 at 7:39 PM
The most powerful man in the free world is battling a woman on a social networking account…
Indian Outlaw on November 4, 2009 at 7:40 PM
to bad they were only rubber bullets and not fmj’s.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:40 PM
PORTLANDON ROCKS!!!!! PORTLANDON/PALIN 2012!
TheAlamos on November 4, 2009 at 7:40 PM
He’s kicking America’s a$$.
BadgerHawk on November 4, 2009 at 7:41 PM
and unfortunatley taking email addresses.
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Too bad Iran doesn’t have a facebook account.
Indian Outlaw on November 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Is it just me??????? If axelrod shaved his mustache a little on the sides………you know like the guy from 1939???? Just sayin……..
1luckydogg on November 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Thanks for this AP the comments are better than comedy central.
tim c on November 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM
It doesn’t hurt to be seen with a hot-looking wife!
Seriously, I like the Fred that doesn’t look so “politiciany” that he seems more like one of the characters he has played in the movies or on Law and Order than he does a real person. The whole time he was in the Senate I kept waiting for Sam Waterson or Jerry Orbach come in and let him know that there was a problem with the evidence.
BTW, Fred is also filming a movie about the racehorse Secretariat. I wonder if that has anything to do with his appearance.
highhopes on November 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM
They can’t even accurately count stimulus jobs created/saved.
TN Mom on November 4, 2009 at 7:42 PM
Oh stop or I’ll get a big head….
I accept the nomination of…/s
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 7:43 PM
*WHAP* Don’t you have writing to do young man?
~Gives stern look and knows someone is coming in a tad short~
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:44 PM
When will we get to see how much money Hoffman pulled in after Palin’s endorsement? That would be a hard statistic that might indicate just what kind of political power she still has.
joedoe on November 4, 2009 at 7:44 PM
And here I was thinking that Dr. Phil’s mom had a love child who has made it big in politics.
highhopes on November 4, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Or Mike “Frontrunner” Huckabee!
NoLeftTurn on November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Does Axelrod what it means?
WHAT OWENS HAS WON IS ONLY A “WINNER’S CURSE”.
FROM NOW ON, OWENS WILL RECEIVE THE GREATEST SCRUTINY OF THE TEA PARTY PEOPLE … AND BY THE NY23 REPUBLICANS THEMSELVES, AFTER THE BALDIN-BIDEN-CHARISMA EVAPORATED IN THE AIR.
IT WILL BE A FULL ONE YEAR CURSE IN THE PUBLIC LIFE OF OWENS.
NO REST FOR THE WICKED!
TheAlamos on November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Biden pushes Owens across the finish line – Point.
President Obama campaigns for Corzine and Deeds – Nothing.
The kid from the special ed school is beating The President of the United States 1-0.
BadgerHawk on November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Are you gonna punch me in the face like the Washington Post editor? LOL! I know, I’m on it. =)
portlandon on November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM
FEAR
davek70 on November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM
So, does this mean that the White House is admitting that Sarah Palin’s political influence rivals that of the President?
How embarrassing for them.
malclave on November 4, 2009 at 7:45 PM
Maybe? Was that the 70 yr old Marine story? God love that man!
upinak on November 4, 2009 at 7:46 PM
Say what? I haven’t heard of this story…but it sounds ten kinds of awesome.
Dark-Star on November 4, 2009 at 7:48 PM
If they truly believe that, they are absorbed with the minutiae of skirmishes and battles and haven’t yet noticed the war.
obladioblada on November 4, 2009 at 7:48 PM
S.E. Cupp is one of the best Red Eye guests they have. She has just the right snark/substance balance for that show.
stldave on November 4, 2009 at 7:48 PM
I love Rush and hardly ever disagree with him, but he’s wrong. Sarah does live in their heads but it’s at a great cost to their sanity. Is Axelrod out of his effin’ mind? What kind of a person would think this let alone say it? Liberalism is a mental illness and it better be in the next DSM with a picture of a donkey.
theenforser on November 4, 2009 at 7:48 PM
Next step for Sarah: Start calling the White House at 3am and when the filthy lying coward answers, as he promised, whisper “you betcha” and hang up.
highhopes on November 4, 2009 at 7:49 PM
I, for one can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow at noon on the House steps and afterward. I predict Bachmann (and America) 1 Pelosi 0
darwin-t on November 4, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Who? Never heard of him.
Missy on November 4, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Such character in the WH. Terrorists? Meh. Political opponents? Destroy them!
conservative pilgrim on November 4, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Bring it on BISHES!!!
abobo on November 4, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Anybody got the figures on costs for the Biden airdrop into NY23 ?? Likewise tehWon’s useless excursions?
Gotta show up in somebody’s FEC reports, no?
CaveatEmpty on November 4, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Fred’s comments were good. And more to the point than the questions he was being asked.
AnninCA on November 4, 2009 at 7:51 PM
Senior White House official gloats: “We’re 2-0 against a girl’s team in Division III.”
BadgerHawk on November 4, 2009 at 7:52 PM
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