–updated–
Without leaving home, Sarah Palin will be able to reach much of her political base, courtesy of a soon-to-be-built television studio in her living room paid for by her newest media patron, Fox News. From her house in Wasilla, Alaska, Ms. Palin also sends missives to 1.3 million Facebook “fans,” writes newspaper columns, Tweets and signs copies of her book for donors. – Palin, Visible and Vocal, Is Positioned for Variety of Roles
Sarah Palin is doing it her way, with new help from Fox. The Palin haters have got to be gnashing their teeth over her continual rising platform. It’s actually quite stunning for someone who was humiliated during a national presidential election, based in good part because of her own unpreparedness, but also naivety that she’d be handled well and gradually broken into the system; then summarily quit an executive political job as governor to start a national political life. At the very least she’s doing it her way. Whatever you want to say about the slim comparisons, Hillary Clinton did it the traditional way by the traditional means. Over fifteen years younger, Palin is walking a road well separate of Clinton. Palin still having a lot to prove if she ever wants to be successful at national office, but making sure no one else is in control of her fate again so far. I’ve been thinking about this a lot and the one thing a woman will have to be ready to do to break out is chart a path unique to who she is, not what the boys’ political club wants. Whatever she ends up doing, right now Sarah is the one sitting pretty, though national political gravitas still eludes her. But given her fan and political base I doubt she cares. We’re heading into a time where anti establishment political types with an “it” persona, independence from traditional structure, but also counter-structural trends, continue to rise. Gravitas is on the way out, as it’s now just interpreted as elitism. Ponder that.
Lots of Tea Party action today. From the Wall Street Journal last night.
A leading organizer of the National Tea Party Convention here announced the launch of the Memphis-based Ensuring Liberty Corporation, a political outfit that will include a political action committee to help fund candidates supported by Tea Party activists.
Mark Scoda, a 55-year-old Memphis businessman and local Tea Party leader, said today he will lead the new effort along with a board of directors that he said he will name next week. The group will have the common goals of the Tea Party Convention, but will not be directly affiliated, he said.
Scoda said the group intends to target House and Senate races this November, in particular the Senate seat held by Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, as well as House races in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee. …
Mr. Tancredo was certainly in his element, which provided no restraint to keep him from humiliating himself.
As for the picture below, nighttime blizzard. Spectacular snowstorm. I’ve lived in the Midwest, New York City, but never seen a snow fall like this one, including the historic fall just this last Christmas. It’s so sticky it’s adhering to everything. Stunningly spectacular. … ps – It’s still snowing, going on 24 hours now.
Over 12″ and counting as it STILL snows HEAVELY with wind driving the flakes horizontally.
And speaking of flakes…
OOOooooh YEAH, them thar teabaggers ain’t no racists!! They’re jest GOOD WHITE peoples all upset about that socialist, NEEEEgro who stealed him tha White House. Shoulda had them a literacy test ta VOTE!
Except for that pathetic lickspittle Keyes of course!
…it’s still snowing here, going on almost 24 hours come 10 a.m. It’s REMARKABLE. I never thought we’d get more than we did at Christmas but…
The racist side of the Tea Partiers, particularly represented by the “birthers,” is on full display through Tancredo. I’d be curious to hear how fiscal hawk Tea Partiers feel about being associated with Tancredo. Bet they don’t like it one bit. Messy stuff third party trials.
As for the update I did at the top re: Palin, she gets a big platform tonight on Fox when she speaks. It’s her biggest national moment since the 2008 election.
Either the WSJ or C-span got the spelling wrong …I just watched about 40 minutes with Mark Skoda on C-Span. He comes from the fiscal conservative branch of this movement.He took pains not to condemn Tancrado but he was obviously dismayed at his remarks. He claimed not to have seen them.He was convincing when he spoke about his lack of racism. He talked about private schools he was involved with in inner city Memphis trying to get kids prepared to enter the work force.He knew the stats for his town (ie. unemployment among minorities, graduation rates, etc)
He appears to be a smart savey guy with some global work experience with one of the freight companies..Fedex UPS?)He is not interested in starting a third party. He is interested in influencing specific elections.His ideas for fixing things are pretty standard conservative: low taxes,deregulation,small government,private solutions.He did not appear to be a flame thrower.
He made some good points about our current mortibund government and it’s inability to get anything done.
They are having a panel later this morning with leaders and an audience asking questions.I think that might prove interesting.
Pelosi is on now at the Democratic convention. Interesting programing this morning. She is trying to make a case for the Dems being the people’s party. Right now she is talking about the economy and defending the Recovery Act. Her stats fly in the face of an earlier Washington Journal with the unemployed calling in and describing their situations.
Obama speaking now…to convention.
They are repeating Skoda now.
What an ass!
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0210/J_Thompson_Foxs_Wallace_owes_Palin_an_apology.html
Not one snow flake in NYC.
Hi Ramsgate
Talked to my brother in law in Silver Springs,Md a couple hours ago – he had well over two feet so far. He had talked to another bil just east of Pittsburgh earlier this morning who had over 20 “.
Hi djjl:
I have a cousin in Columbia MD; spoke to her at 8 AM and she had a foot. Just gray skies here. Not even flurries . . . as yet.
Here’s an interesting take on Shelby’s “Hold.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-osborne/the-shelby-griffith-hail_b_451983.html
djjl says:
06 February 2010 at 2:09 pm
Very interesting. Desperation is right.
They’re still not hitting Shelby hard enough. IMO
Ramsgate
You’re in NYC?
djjl says:
06 February 2010 at 2:20 pm
Yes.
hello friends…
Taylor, How much snow?
We’re over 2 feet and it’s still coming down…
Snow, no show in Manhattan.
I am SURE Mark Skoda was shocked, SHOCKED that there would be any expressions of racism at the convention of a group that started out as a bunch of racists!!! I mean REEEEEEaly!
NO SNOW IN NYC?! For the first time I find myself wishing I lived in NY!
I would say just from how high up my leg it was when I started digging out our Mini we got at LEAST 24″
Taylor Marsh says:
06 February 2010 at 2:41 pm
HOLY S*N*O*W
Maybe its being filibustered in DC.
We’ll get it later in the week once its released.
It Figures.
Incidently Ms. marsh, what the heck kind of Blorgenator is hubby shoveling out there anyway?
Secular
Seems that PA’s got about 24″ across the southern part of the state. Wow!
Yep, Secularh, we’re topping out too with it still comin’ down.
As for Mark’s “Blorgenator,” it’s a Chevy Silverado with 9″ lift, custom utility bed, and 37″ tires.
ps-We’re supposed to get 4 more inches, then it will “taper off.”
Taylor, great pictures! Thanks for posting so I can enjoy it vicariously–without all the hassles, too, how sweet!
Actually, I’d love to have a coupla feet of the white stuff. We got cold, flurries, and not much else here in East Tennessee. Whine…..
Okay, on to The Palin! I actually was bowled over that she got a studio in her home from Fox News. Goodness gracious, that girl can negotiate.
She hasn’t really made much of an impact on Fox from what I’ve seen so far; she’s not that interesting. So, gee, what is Fox thinking? I think Palin’s getting paid doodly but got the studio as a form of payment, because SHE’S thinking ahead. But, who knows what evil lurks in the heart of Sarah? The “First Dude” Knows…
Finally, Remember Hill Street Blues [loved that show!]: Be Careful Out There, Taylor!
And, the rest of you Mid-Atlantic Dwellers, too.
I live in a rural area just north of Leesburg, VA – 28″ in my back yard – and that’s NOT a snowdrift!
I would guess that it will be days before D.C. is fully functioning. When we got two feet about 25 years ago schools were out for a week.A good friend of mine was on a first date and got snowed in with the man she has now been married to for 24 years.There will probably be a baby boomlet in about 9 months
We just got a dusting but are supposed to get around six inches tonight.Right now it is sunny and I saw a flock of robins coming home from my daughter’s across the lake. Sammy got his first little boy hair cut! Too cute!
50 degrees here in Sunny Portland, Oregon.. Going out to do some yardword…. very jealous of all you “SNOW PEOPLE”!!!
yardwork… grrr…re: my typos!
Well, Whitepaw I’m jealous of you! I am getting cabin fever and would love to be digging in the dirt!
Here is a good reason to be proud of my Bluedog Senator!She means it about earmarks. She does not do them.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/80031-dem-senator-says-shelby-holds-should-spell-end-for-earmarks
Storm just ended about 2 hrs ago up here in Pennsylvania. I have 18-20 inches in my driveway. Drifts above 30 inches in places. We’re still under a ‘snow emergency’ so noone is out on the roads. I guess that means I should make a sandwich for dinner.
Hope everyone else is safe and warm out there!
CNN is giving Palin the FULL TREATMENT!
I can’t open my back door because the snow’s drifted up at least 4′ against it. Mt Mini Cooper was COMPLETELY intombed in snow BEFORE the plows came along and buried it further!!!
I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!
Of course when we get hit again on Tuesday I may have changed my tune!
Here in rural (very) central Ohio we have about 14″ with 3′ drifts. Our road is only half plowed, unfortunately the other half from our driveway which as usual was plowed out by a farm neighbor. We have the van half way down the drive but getting out will be chancy as the road is drifted.
My brother in upstate NY called–he complains that they don’t have any snow.
wait. We’re getting hit again this week?!?
Hi folks. Hope you all have stayed safe and warm.
Secular – 4 ft AND Mt Mini Cooper – whooa.
It’s been kind of fun having everyone tell us where they live.
I know my sense of humor is a little different sometimes –
But am I the only one laughing my *ass* off as Sarah Palin’s big speech is precisely opposite the very First televised NASCAR Race of the NASCAR season ? LOL
Fox Network: NASCAR
Fox News: Sarah Palin
Hillarious.
pmichael
Where are you? How’s your weather?
“Alaska – a beacon of hope?”
What the HELL is she talking about ?
Oh, you’re watching the comedy channel
Me? djjl
Central CA. rain rain rain
Nah. Kurt Busch just wreaked so I switched to the comedy channel while they cleaned it up. She KNEW she screwed up. You could see it on her face and in her voice seconds later.
How are you feeling pmichael? Rainy weather uncomfortable?
(wow) Thank you for asking, djjl. That’s really exceptional of you. Weather doesn’t seem to be a factor with my problems (long as I stay warm). I’ve actually gotten a lot of midnight work done recently. First half of the month – I have plenty of Vicodens, *L* I don’t think Taylor will mind this. Go here:
http://www.MorrisWholesale.com and click on their “Tools & Resources” button. That’s all my design and coding.
I can’t WAIT for the ‘fact check’ on this little sermon.
pmichael
When one lives a while one realizes that life is anything but fair. And you learn that there are folks who do all they can do get through another day. And you realize that there are people who find it very uncomfortable to get from one day to another.
djjl, it’s that magic word I teach young people about (and sometimes adults). The word is “perspective“. With ‘perspective’ you can keep a little control and appreciation of your life.
When I’m sick as Hell – I try to remember the guy with the “Help” sign out on the corner in front of WalMart – and wonder where he’s sleeping tonight.
Yep, you are right.
One thing I’m really proud of is that our daughters, while relatively privileged, grew up knowing that they were very fortunate and definitely not entitled. As I’ve said before – an accident of birth. They could have been born to parents in Uganda, Afganistan, or the Queen of England. They were born to educated parents in the US – lucky for them.
Kind of funny, my youngest daughter has told me about some “issues” she has with her husband. She says they are born of him being “spoiled.” I told her that she has told me that she knows she was “spoiled.” Her comment was interesting – “you made sure we knew we didn’t deserve the privilege.”
Curious perspective – but I think it’s good.
Do you ever feel well?
“Do you ever feel well?”
Vicodens, djjl.
Like now. The ‘problems’ are quite a list.
I just try to appreciate the good moments – like now.
And the people I work for are “friends” now. (This one:
http://www.HollandiaNursery.com has me doing their
computer stuff since 1981) They are all VERY patient
with me.
Palin to Obama: ‘Stop lecturing, start listening’
The former Alaska governor gives pointed advice during her speech to the inaugural “tea party” convention.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
Does this look like another Big Business sales job – have we seen tis before?
Palin to Obama: ‘Stop lecturing, start listening’
SCUSE ME?
Wasn’t his visit into the lion’s den PURELY to answer their question ?
This woman “tests” her words to Kiss up to whomever she is in front of. She learned that at the beauty pageants, of course.
http://www.lbfitness.com/2013.jpg
Interesting sidenote: NASCAR finally figured out a “Green White Checkered” finish is “Two” laps to go. Fox Sports and NASCAR thought it was “three” laps to go, all of last year. I’m Serious!
We don’t have much snow in Central New York (upstate) right now. It’s cold but not much snow this season. We average 130 inches of snow per year. To tell you the truth, I don’t mind a good blizzard. I was used to them growing up but it seems the past decade hasn’t seen many at all.
Sec — You drive a minicooper? Me too — Mine is green with a white top and sunroof… what’s yours?
My adorable husband had my mini in the driveway with a huge red bow on top the morning of my 40th birthday… I’m a very lucky girl…