The concept of communism is rightly reviled in this country for the simple reason that it is blind to human nature, allowing a small group of individuals near-total control, while sticking everyone else with the same crappy systems — and the bill. America spent countless lives and half a century fighting against this system of government. So why are we standing for it now? – The Cost of Corporate Communism, by Dylan Ratigan
The article from Dylan Ratigan linked above is the backdrop. The staggering new numbers putting Tea Party candidate Marco Rubio 23 points ahead of Charlie Crist the foreground.
Was it all made possible by Democrats?
Segue to the Boston Herald, which has some very, err…. interesting quotes from Sarah Palin.
Conservative superstar Sarah Palin opened the door yesterday to joining forces with Mitt Romney for a 2012 White House run – a hot ticket that has some Republicans licking their chops at the prospect of unseating President Obama.
“Sounds pretty good,” Palin declared at yesterday’s Tea Party Express rally on the Common when asked about pairing up with the former Bay State governor – giving the idea a big thumbs-up as she left the stage after her headline speech.
Palin goes on to say “I have a lot of respect for Mitt.” Being polite is always smart, especially since Mr. Romney is the establishment frontrunner for the spot.
All of this comes as more evidence is revealed that Pres. Obama has not gained from passing health care. That’s what happens when you don’t give out the goodies up front, but instead slap people with an undemocratic mandate inside a monopolized monstrosity, which Dylan Ratigan writes about today. It’s nice being in Dylan’s company on this one.
Getting back to Palin demurring to Mitt, there is no better vice presidential pit bull than Sarah Palin. Even as people are not comfortable with her in the top slot, her presence on the ticket would bring the Republican establishment and Palin’s throngs together in a powerful twosome that could electrify the Republicans and unite them against Barack Obama and Joe Biden in 2012.
Traveling over to Hot Air, GOP strategists weigh in on the possible Romney-Palin match:
They quote GOP strategist Douglas Lorenz in calling that ticket “formidable,” while one Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor called it “the best of both worlds” and another declared that partnership “a good looking ticket,” which may have been meant literally.
But would Sarah take number two? Since it’s the wingnut base who elects the nominee, would she have to?
And what about Mike Huckabee? Some think he’s got as good of a chance as anyone, but I’m still not convinced. If I were an opponent, I’d simply lay down a negative barrage on his parole decisions when he was Arkansas governor, then watch the man flail. His homophobic views on gays and adoption border on psychotic.
Another conservative weighs in on Palin and Romney:
Could happen, and sounds like a powerhouse ticket with two experienced, adept candidates, no matter who’s on the top of the ticket. One problem. OK, two problems. Romney’s perceived as a fence-hopper, flip-flopper who despite his confidence and campaign-trail message discipline, is vulnerable to attacks from both right and left on that score. Palin, meanwhile, has become such a polarizing figure that there is the potential she could cost the ticket some of the Brownist independent support that Republicans should be able to count on to swing the middle in 2012.
Romney will have primary problems on health care, while Palin will have primary problems with everyone to the left of the right-wing.
However, Democrats have their challenges for 2012, too. One of Pres. Obama’s biggest unknowns looking forward is energizing Democrats like he did in 2008. Mitt Romney isn’t that scary, even if he’s just barely in front of Ron Paul in straw polls, someone the Republican establishment won’t allow to win. Romney is also young, in good health and looking as vigorous as anyone, so the fear of Palin taking over that existed during 2008 when John McCain didn’t exactly present a picture of longevity would be carved away. However, Sarah Palin at the top of the ticket? Democrats would likely come home in droves to help take her down; not so if she’s veep.
Now’s the part where any political writer says, it’s a long way until 2012, but no one actually knew until yesterday if Palin was willing to grab the second rung again for another ride, though the quote from the Herald shouldn’t convince anyone. That said, it’s also possible that Palin could calculate that she’s got plenty of time, with a vice presidency still being a history making move if Mr. Romney can do the job Sarah Palin just isn’t ready to undertake. Yet. Or she could stay out, raise cash and the roof for the Republican nominee.
One thing Mrs. Palin should learn is the proper way to eat the local fare.
Let’s face it. After oysters and lobster at the Union Oyster House, where are you going? Mike’s for cannolis. Great old world Italian bakery on Hanover Street. Swooning Palin fans will be interested to know that she got the chocolate, which as one Palin-smitten cannoli expert noted last night, is a little bold, naughty, risque … sort of like the red leather jacket and boots of cannolis. Good girls stick with the traditional white Ricotta cheese.
The genesis of Sarah Palin’s power (also Marco Rubio), which comes through Tea Party discontent, only matters in order for us to moor their anger in the bad economic policies of Republicans, which actually had its original genesis in Reagans’ deregulation, which precipitated Wall Streets’ greed; the most recent spending by Republicans being George W. Bush (but also a GOP Congress that rubber-stamped his policies) where their discontent ignited, even if they can’t admit it. It had to be G.W. Bush who kick-started the current Tea Party and independent outrage against spending, if only because Barack Obama inherited the situation from Bush. That’s simply a fact. Don’t expect Tea Party people to admit it. However, they have no argument to make on taxes. Also worth noting is at this point we still have no proof that the Tea Party can deliver anything beyond crowds and theater. (Virginia’s Bob McDonnell is not a Tea Partier, nor is Sen. Scott Brown, much to their chagrin.)
The trouble remains that Barack Obama campaigned on change, which independents and Republicans, even Democrats, bought, but when he came in to Washington he did the opposite.
Pres. Obama inherited Bush’s bailout, including of the car industry, however, then he added on to them with the stimulus; though it was Obama continuing the Washington – Wall Street coziness, which voters thought he’d fix, that ignited the latent economic fury. The Democratic cave in to big insurance on health care was simply the final straw.
The mid-term elections will be the first point at which people can direct their fury and much of the ground on which their anger is laid is shared by Republicans, even if the target now is all things Obama.
Taylor, I have been hearing of a Mitt Romney/Sarah Palin ticket also. Sarah Palin can draw the crowds and raise the money. Mitt Romney seems to be ahead of the polls, followed by Sarah Palin. I don’t see Ron Paul on that ticket. I think if Sarah Palin was asked to be the vice presidental candidate again, she would do it. If she has to wait to run for president I think she would be ok with it because she would want to become the nations first female vice president. Mike Huckabee can’t bring in the crowds and raise the money like Sarah Palin can, so I don’t see him becoming a presidental or vice presidental candidate. Right now I don’t see anyother republicans that are the big names in the party besides Romney and Palin. Like Vice President Joe Biden said when he thought the mic was off at the healthcare summit saying that “being vice president was pretty easy” so I could see the ticket of Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin in 2012.
I never thought about it but I think that Sarah Palin, even if she does not get the to be on the ticket, she is going to want something for raising money and getting the large crowds worked up. Its old saying “I will Scratch your back,and you scratch mine” thing. She is either going to be on the ticket or some place in the white house such as white house chief of staff or some other position. Sarah Palin is picking candidates for 2010 election and some are ahead in the polls. If the ones that she helped in 2010 get in office, I am sure she will have some loyal backers in 2012. Its going to get interesting.
Hey, FMI, I know you’re a fan of SP, so you have to be happy at all the hoopla she’s creating.
Palin and Tea Party activists are really blind to where they’re placing their econ focus. I know they can’t get Bush retroactively, but the Obama derangement is just weird.
Their tax argument is nuts, with spending a good target, yet the TP are for SS and Medicare. It’s nonsensical.
I don’t understand the tea party myself Taylor. I know that Sarah Palin is apart of it so the only reason I would got to is if she speaks at one. They have this “contract for america” thing like Newt Gingrich had in 1994. I also think they need to focus on the issues and not just president Obama.
Guessing which shell the pea is under can de fun. But Andy Stern of SEIU is really having a good time. Stern resigned as the president of SEIU so that he could set up a new political party in North Carolina called North Carolina First. Seems Stern had promised Obama that Democratic House members from NC, Heath Shuler, Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell would all vote for Obama’s health care bill. None of them did and Stern is out for blood. He is especially pissed off at Kissell who he blames for talking both Shuler and McIntyre into voting no on the bill. http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/its-war-seiu-starting-th/
Andy Stern has worked his heart out, no doubt.
But this NC campaign is an ego grudge match.
That Stern caved on offering people a true choice, giving in on Medicare buy-in or the public option is nothing to brag about.
Dems are real idiots. What do they expect a Blue Dog to do? They got elected for being conservative Democrats.
Male pissing contest. Period.
This move by Stern may go deeper than just a male pissing contest. For Obama to be sucessful in 2012 he needs to keep North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Ohio and Indiana in play. With the nonsense being pulled by the governor and lt. governor of Virginia Obama shouldn’t have too many worries there. The Christ mess in Florida is ripping the Republican Party apart there so that state looks good for Obama. After Ohio and Indiana get a few hundred thousand jobs Obama will get the support he needs there. So it appears that Stern’s task in NC is to soften up the Democratic political machine in that state and turn it in Obama’s favor while expanding the union membership. Peace
Excellent analysis here, in my opinion.
“One of Pres. Obama’s biggest challenges going forward is energizing people like he did in ’08″ Ya got that right.
and correct that Romney/Palin could “electrify” Republicans and unite them (and others) against a Obama-Biden ticket.
especially considering how many disappointed ’08 barack supporters would find it hard to bestir themselves in ’12
“cave in to big insurance the final straw” for many people, yes indeed
“The trouble reamins that Obama campaigned on change…but when he came in to Washington he did the opposite” Yes.
on too many things he did the opposite (extraordinary rendition, torture, protecting torturers, guantanamo, secrecy in govt, lack of promised transparency, assassination of foreign, even in some cases, american, targets……) There are a number of things that some people feel rather grouch about.
One would hope for him to win because alternative is much worse, but it might be difficult to find enthusiastic feelings of support.
On the domestic security front, Pres Obama has followed Bush- Cheney for the most part. It’s been anything but “change.” If he picks Elena Kagan for SCOTUS that pattern will continue, though to be clear, she’s a first rate mind, among other progressive views.
This will continue until progressives wake up and begin holding companies that give money to conservatives in both parties accountable for the trerrible corporate oriented legislation.
This health care law appers a BIGGER HULKING version of Medicare Part D.
Hold the corporations acountable.
http://www.hoflink.com/~dbaer/help-me-change-america.htm
Always good to know you just keep working, D. Thanks for all you do.
Well it’s not working with enough people. So this will continue for decades unless progressives stop their Stockholm syndrome, wake up and start pressuring prominent corporations associated with an issue and demand the action or legislation from them.
Taylor, did you get my messages to you on facebook about John Dean and Gov McDonnell of Virginia?
is the only way for obama to save the situation in 2012 with palin is to make hillary his running mate? i doubt he would do it but some of us int he grassroots see this as one fo the last ways to energize the party.
All Presidents ‘inherit’ from the President that preceded them. By 2012 The Bush presidency will be too far removed. As for 2012, it will not be like 2008. True, Obama energized Democrats and other voters. But, the Bush presidency (in contrast) also energized them. Without a Bush presidency, there might not be an Obama presidency.
“Romney – Palin 2012, or… How do Tea Partiers Ignore that Republicans Helped Get Us In This Mess?”
How? By being a wholey created by and owned by subsidiary of the repugnantklan national committee that’s how. INSPITE of what some of the dim bulbs who post here think or say.