Well, never let it be said that the traditional media establishment won’t eventually catch on. David Broder, the Washington dean of politics, finally takes a deep breath only to find himself intoxicated by Sarah. The political perfume that’s been dropped on doorsteps in every conservative conclave in the nation, created the day she decided that the Republican establishment wouldn’t drive her train.
… Freed of the responsibilities she carried as governor of Alaska, devoid of any official title but armed with regular gigs on Fox News Channel and more speaking invitations than she can fulfill, Palin is perhaps the most visible Republican in the land.
More important, she has locked herself firmly in the populist embrace that every skillful outsider candidate from George Wallace to Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton has utilized when running against “the political establishment.”
“Freed of the responsibilities she carried as governor of Alaska”… That’s a good one and just as I expected, the slate brushed clean of any icky, embarrassing quitter description that would beat up Sarah’s brand.
Hillary Clinton, now inoculated and neutered over at State, with her candidacy a mere memory, has finally washed the bile from the Establishment’s throat over the possibility of her presidency. So the wannabe path for Sarah is clear and she can walk freer from the fear of Mr. Broder pronouncing she’s unfit. Especially since Sarah Palin represents the counterpoint to what’s happening, mirroring the mood of the country.
But in the present mood of the country, Palin is by all odds a threat to the more uptight Republican aspirants such as Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty — and potentially, to Obama as well. … Those who want to stop her will need more ammunition than deriding her habit of writing on her hand. The lady is good.
Oh dear, the dean invoked “O.”
There is nothing that gives the White House crew and their No One Can Beat Our Guy fans a better laugh than anyone thinking that Barack Obama would have to worry about the likes of Sarah Palin. In fact, the way the White House has been taking their sweet time on just about everything, you’d think they’d won an 8-year stint. That was assumed, right?
The dean of the Washington establishment is here to disabuse them of such high falutin thinkin’. There’s new change a foot and it doesn’t come cloaked in an Ivy League resume, GOP Establishment credentials or the centrisy-centrism, lefty moving right sort of gaming nonsense. She’s just Sarah, bringing common sense to America, something Washington sorely needs.
Palin’s “pitch perfect populism” to the rescue.
After all, the smart set blew it.
If Sarah Palin is what passes for “common sense” and “pitch perfect populism” these days then we have all entered into the alternative universe of “nonsense.” As for the “smart set,” these are the very same people who brought us Nixon, two Bush’s and, dare I say, one Clinton. These folks have always been as dumb as a stump. Just look around you if you require proof of that. Peace
David Broder is a senile old poop but he is lauded as the Dean of the village.Do these people care at all about our country? “Common sense”
phashaw!(I’m not sure to spell it but it is what my grandpa used to say when something was not worth thinking about)
Taylor I know you are excellent at reading the tea leaves but come on…no way will she be able to carry her act all the way.Even the financial interests don’t want us in a world war.
Case in point that I put over in In the news yesterday.
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/exclusive-sarah-palins-debut-motivat
“According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 71% of Americans do not feel that Palin is qualified to be President. That includes a sharp drop in Republican support, where 45% believe she is qualified compared to 66% who thought she was last fall.
Overall, 37% have a favorable view while 55% have an unfavorable view of the former Alaska Governor.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/11/palin-unqualified-president-tea-party-poll_n_457836.html
Lake Lady says:
11 February 2010 at 11:49 am
Absolutely NO ONE can predict what will happen in 2012. What is assured is that Sarah Palin’s rising in power.
As a hypothetical, consider that same poll on Barack Obama in 2006. There is no doubt the Dem establishment knew of his intellect and political charisma, but the American people did not. That is NOT to compare the talents of these two individuals, but to illustrate the first line above. No one can predict.
That said, so many scoffed that quitting the governorship would doom her. Quite to the contrary. Her negatives are high and she doesn’t have HRC’s 8 years to improve them. But her power continues to increase.
If you want polls, well, there are other polls. A generic Rep. is only 2 points behind right now. That’s quite a shift in one year from where Obama started, the only thing worth measuring, as 2012 is too far off and “generic” doesn’t cut it in the end.
GALLUP – Voters Divided Over Obama vs. Republican Candidate in 2012
Republicans most often mention Romney, Palin as preferred candidate
PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters are about equally divided as to whether they would more likely vote to re-elect Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election, or vote for the Republican candidate.
…Independents currently show a greater preference for the Republican candidate than for Obama, by 45% to 31%, though about one in four do not have an opinion. However, even with independents leaning in the Republican candidate’s direction, Obama is tied among all voters because of the greater proportion of Democratic identifiers in the registered voter population.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/125777/Voters-Divided-Obama-Republican-Candidate-2012.aspx
That David Broder is weighing in and taking her seriously will get the GOP Establishment’s eye. That’s why he did it. He’s sending a message. It’s a beginning, a shift worth noting.
comment edited
I think Jason Linkin has is about right on Broder
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/12/david-broder-is-really-in_n_457582.html
David Broder is really into Sarah Palin This Week
If a majority of voters take Sarah Palin seriously,I will eat my hat and move to Canada.
—-the smart set blew it.
Well said. I don’t see how Obama ever regains the aura he once had. He seems to represent big government, waste, and 1970s McGovern identity politics. The country is finished with that wing of the party. Bill Clinton, former chair of the DLC, demonstrated that clearly. But the Bob Shrums and Donna Braziles are true believers, and any attack against Hillary was worth a return statism. The Blue Dogs may be despised by the NutRoots, but they’ll be ascendant after Obama’s disastrous presidency.
Here’s a direct link to the poll mentioned above:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021004708.html?hpid=topnews
People are not happy at all with government, and they are open to looking for someone else and that person’s approach to issues (think Scott Brown). Who that might be in 2012 is up in the air, and at this point anyone who’s occupation/career is/was a politician is probably rated lower then pond scum (Democrat or Republican), but as 2012 get’s closer, people will start making decisions compared to what is all out there. So Palin is still an option.
BluePuppy says:
The Blue Dogs may be despised by the NutRoots, but they’ll be ascendant after Obama’s disastrous presidency.
As a paid up member of the “NutRoot”, here I’m assuming you mean progressives – liberals – grass roots, I can assure you that you are completely wrong. The idea that the BlueDogs and Obama are on opposite ends of the Democratic Spectrum shows just how broken your understanding of things are. They are united in their loyality to the Clinton plan of selling out the Democratic Party to Corporate America. Its only a matter who heads the sell out process. You obviously prefer that the HillBill show runs the auction others like Obama. At any rate its the same show, its the same auction – just different lead actors.
Re: the BlueDogs. Happily, they are headed to a heavy round of death and decay next November when your NutRoots don’t show up to vote for them and the Indies see them for what they are and decide if they are gonna vote for a Republican anyway why not get a real one not a fraud in a cheap Democratic suite Lets see how Senator Lincoln (D – WalMart) does the Nov. when the few progressives and liberals that exist in Arkansas along with the Unions aren’t there to help her spread her message of the glories of Corporate owned America.
We are entering a period of House and Senate cleaning in the Democratic Party and my guess is that most of the frauds are headed out the door.
mwfolsom says:
11 February 2010 at 1:36 pm
You obviously haven’t been following blue Puppy’s posts very long.
‘BluePuppy says:
17 January 2010 at 10:55 am
This race is a referendum on Obama/Reid/Pelosi. The Democratic leadership is so far out of the mainstream with their policies — forcing people to buy healthcare, amnesty for illegal aliens, and raising taxes — that average working class Democrats see the leadership as working against their economic interests which, of course, is true.”
“BluePuppy says:
17 January 2010 at 12:22 pm
secularhumanizinevoluter: you’re hysterical. Not “ha ha” hysterical. More like crumbling emotionally, kinda like Martha Coakley’s campaign.
Racist! Rape! Rich guys! Teabaggers!
I am simply observing what’s going on in MA. Those “poor stupid rubes,” like the PA voters Obama insulted, actually can understand that a far-Left agenda, crafted by special interests, lobbyists, identity groups, and the croissant-eaters, is bad for their pocket books.”
“BluePuppy says:
19 January 2010 at 10:15 am
Excellent piece. I couldn’t agree more that the Democratic establishment is out of touch with the people. I happen to think that the god-awful bills in congress now are way, way too far towards socialism. And I believe Obama should have taken a less ambitious bill over the summer, a bill many Republicans could support (say, complete tax deduction for healthcare spending and a ban on blocking coverage of those with pre-existing conditions) and he could have claimed victory and focused on jobs over the fall. A smart politician steals the thunder from his opponents; Obama listened to those who insisted that we HAD to have a European-style healthcare plan NOW — but clearly that’s not what America wants. Americans want jobs and fiscal sanity, neither of which Obama is delivering.”
Blue Puppy is not Blue
The only, ONLY chance the Dems would have is to use their majorities to ram through comprehensive universal healthcare. And then go after the confolks in the financial/credit/banking sectors.
The Dem controled congress is held in contempt by J.Q.Public is because they haven’t been liberal/progressive ENOUGH, in fact not at ALL! All of the programs and promises Obama made during the campaign were from the liberal play book. It sickens me to say he has delivered on NOTHING. And THAT is why the numbers are what they are. Much was promised, NOTHING was delivered. But anyone who thinks it’s because he is TO left or socialist is as delussional as any teabagger or birther.
not to be a troll…
but sarah palin while you might not think she is smart has made a series of moves that either coached or not have continously put her in the news and in my opinion is positioning her to be one of the most publicized voices in america.
if she can be criticized its that fact that she has done what can be stupid things to get attention. think of the ball cap the writing. some of the things she has said or done and the media drives the message forward that she is just one of the ordinary people and not elite yet she is always in the news.
if she even sneezes and can be criticized it is written about and pontificated upon endlessly.
so expect her to peak and then lay low for a while when it comes to doing “stupid things”. dumb luck? maybe? but its way past that by now.
if anything I worry she will suffer the same issue with over exposure that obama suffered… naw she is too damn smart for that
I rarely comment.. but your generals are losing the war and mr obama is leading the foolish charge that destroys his armys top leaders.
by the way he is leading it from the back of the army.
thanks for the blog taylor… I even read the comments.
President Obama apparently is able only to operate below his pay grade. What an abysmal fiasco.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/11/obama-virtually-tied-with_n_458631.html
Obama Virtually Tied With Generic Republican Candidate In 2012: POLL
“Mark D says:
11 February 2010 at 2:39 pm
snip
I rarely comment.. but your generals are losing the war and mr obama is leading the foolish charge that destroys his armys top leaders.
by the way he is leading it from the back of the army.”
He’s not leading from the back. He’s trying to follow. They waited and waited and begged for leadership. He’d have none of it. He wanted to follow. Leadership isn’t his style – rigging the game is.
djjl, thanks for re-posting my “Best Of” comments. I wouldn’t change a word.
beg to differ.
mr obama has suggested “hey guys lets do this”. sat back and watched the results. sadly this time the results affect the whoole damn country.
during the election cycle he got asked a question sat back and said “let me think about it” hemmed and hawed or gave a answer that supported all side which he would then clarify a few days later.
what he really did during that time was go and read what clinton would do. he then came back with a slightly different spin that he trumpeted as a superior answer. this happened over and over during the primaries.
they all followed… pelosi, reid and the rest have lead the charge and are going to pay heavily in this coming election cycle.
mr obama sits back and blames them(hell blames anybody) for doing what he wanted them to do. if they succeed he gets the credit… if they fail they get the blame. while the leaders/congress may have made the lower level policy decisions and crafted the bills obama lead them there and they are going to be destroyed by the opposing side.
he is the ultimate arm chair quarterback and the country is paying the price.
um… djjl, that’s the *exact* same poll I put up in my comment up thread, with some analysis added.
As for Linkins, who I enjoy reading, like so many others on the left he missed it by a mile is his piece. He wrote:
Lord. I’ve got to let David Broder in on a little secret here: The people who want to “stop” Sarah Palin are other Republican hopefuls. … and then immediately pivot to promoting the presidential aspirations of people like Haley Barbour.
As I said above, Broder’s column is a missive to the GOP Establishment, which Linkins and others ignore. As for Haley Barbour, WOW. If the GOP wants to be beaten badly, run him. Please.
Mark D says:
11 February 2010 at 2:39 pm
You are *not* considered a troll around here, no matter the party or persuasion. I get emails from a lot of lurkers who won’t chime in here, but who are saying the same thing. I want EVERYONE to feel they can comment, regardless of political side. I learn a lot from people who email me from all over the country. No one is unwelcome, as it’s how I know what’s going on.
Palin was already overexposed in 2008. She also laid low for quite a while, included after she quit her governor’s job. She won’t make the same mistake that was made in 2008 by the McCain people who didn’t know how to handle her. It’s actually doubtful that she can ever be that bad again. She’s also already failed terribly, being deservedly pilloried by everyone, so her fear quotient is non-existent. At the very worst she’ll get very wealthy out of it all. But since she’s obviously dreaming about being the 1st female pres., she cannot afford to let Mitt or Pawlenty or whomever grab the spotlight first. Palin also has no intention of listening or following GOP rules, as she already saw how that movie ended in ’08, learning from Hillary’s implosion as well. Sarah Palin is quietly putting together her campaign staff, also visiting places where she’s welcome. Meanwhile, Randy Scheunemann, from McCain’s old team, is coaching her on foreign policy.
Thanks for chiming in, MarkD.
It sickens me to say he has delivered on NOTHING. And THAT is why the numbers are what they are. Much was promised, NOTHING was delivered.
secularh, Obama did deliver for the big banks and Wall Street, also fro BigPharma, as the rest of your comment hints. It’s this image that is killing him and the Dems, because while people suffer and lose their homes the alleged working man’s party has been AWOL.
The best show on this is “Morning Joe” yesterday, which should be watched via video online by every Democrat who wants to save Obama & the Dems.
Rolling Stone interview w/ Tim Dickerson:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/
SC GOP joins forces w/ Tea Party (two days after Palin said it)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/#35328680
Tina Brown on Palin:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/#35328334
Health care – reconciliation
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/#35328609
Thanks for making this an open environment, TM.
I’m getting hell from my fellow lefties, but it’s important for the debate going forward, as there is a significant shift politically in people, alignments, alliances, mood, etc. I want it represented here. If I can help make it happen, I will.
“It’s this image that is killing him and the Dems, because while people suffer and lose their homes the alleged working man’s party has been AWOL.”
Ms. Marsh, I lovez ya I ya KNOWZ I duz…but this ain’t no IMAGE. This is REALITY>
The Banks, Phama and Wall Street have been VERY well taken care of. The Public…not so much. In fact, NOT AT ALL!!
hi all
one of the most important values blog wise is the depth of the comments. some blogs have many comments but that are mostly made up of one and two liners.
while I disagree with some of your viewpoints.. and in the past just couldnt stand to read the happy obama is the greatest type posts after the election. your comments are not one liners chipping in “ya me to” and are actually well thought out and presented.
this and a few others are worth reading. the MSM comment sections rarely offer much worth reading but seem to reflect the mood of the masses. right or left it doesnt matter each has a majority of simple sentence relpies with very little to say. the “new media” blogs are different and the good ones have extremely intelligent posters who are worth reading. these posters make up the backbone of a blog and are valued highly.
and for that I salute you all.
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
11 February 2010 at 4:01 pm
Oh, I know that, secularh, and have said so. I’m just emphasizing that the image people have of Obama is ever present and he’s not going to be able to run from it in 2012, as Plouffe tries to re-energize the candidate from ’08. We’re in FULL agreement.
Thanks for that, MarkD. I learn a lot from the people around here commenting, even when I don’t have time to jump in myself. I read as many of the comments as I can every day.
Welcome Mark D all viewpoints are welcomed by this liberal.
Mark D, most of these people aren’t really Liberals. They just play Liberals on this blog. Peace
Okay ..whatever you say …little brother.