–cross-posted at Huffington Post–
There remains a “Hillary hole,” with women wanting their turn, while people hunger for something radically different, which is currently being filled by the Tea Party, a star named Sarah and her fans. Not surprisingly, as poll after poll on her rolls out, the narrative on Sarah Palin continues to be filled out unfairly. I know, you’re shocked. But love her or hate her, whether she runs in 2012 or not, when you look at the left, the reality is there’s no anti-Palin progressive who matches what Palin’s got.
The latest poll from CBS on Palin comes with an interesting graphic. Unfortunately, the headline blows the lede and the main data point. The news for Palin isn’t as bad as the CBS headline screams: “Low Favorability Ratings for Sarah Palin.” Do the math.
Just Republicans: 43% approve of her; 16% have an unfavorable opinion; with 29% undecided and 27% haven’t heard enough about her.
In overall opinion, beyond Republicans: 24% favorable; 38% unfavorable; 20% undecided; 17% haven’t heard enough about her.
As for Independents: 25% favorable; 35% unfavorable; 20% undecided; 18% haven’t heard enough.
Then look at the gender numbers. Sarah Palin’s charisma holds a key for why middle-aged right-wing males are on her side. As for women, 40% have an unfavorable opinion of her. But guess what; just as many women “haven’t heard enough” about her, coming in at 39%.
Translation: Sarah Palin has challenges if she’s thinking about 2012, no doubt; but there are plenty of opportunities to change minds her way, according to the CBS poll. Question remains whether she can given her style, the substance of her rhetoric, as well as her delivery.
Lefties get infuriated when I parse the traditional and new media spin against Sarah Palin. I can hear the caterwauling already, but don’t care much about it, as I’m more interested in following the story, not the negative Hillaryesque stereotyping.
The truth is that the CBS poll offers some hope for Palin and her people, if the crowds and cash aren’t enough. For all the “she’s a wacko” storyline, there are a lot of people who remain undecided about Sarah, even as the traditional media continues to offer stereotypical “Low Favorability Ratings for Sarah Palin” headlines, even if the data screams a different and more important story.
Meanwhile, whether Sarah Palin runs in 2012 or not, she’s making money while running from state to state campaigning for Republicans and Tea Party people. She’s also keeping her maverick status intact by going against the insider GOPers by defending Michael Steele, which seems more stubbornly obstinate than smart. It should be noted that right now her approval among Republicans remains high enough to still make her a possible contender, something I’m sure Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are watching.
Mrs. Palin’s politics aren’t for me, and though I pine to see hot headliners from the left, instead we get the likes of Claire McCaskill, Kathleen Sebelius and other Obama blue dog duds, with no women of any wattage in sight.
From a terrific piece on Huffington Post, there is also a larger Democratic problem, which is outlined in “Power Struggle: Inside The Battle For The Soul Of The Democratic Party”:
[...] Yet for all the real accomplishments, many liberals are celebrating less than they are commiserating about a lost opportunity, an opportunity for progressive change that pales in comparison to ’33 and ’34, ’64 and ’65, when Democratic majorities redirected the course of the nation. “It is only once in a generation that a people can be lifted above material things,” Woodrow Wilson said, perhaps optimistically. “That is why conservative government is in the saddle two-thirds of the time.” This generation reformed health care and built on that foundation, but the contemporary Democratic approach relies more on using government money to prop up private institutions, no matter how broken, instead of expanding the public sector. For instance, a public insurance plan — the “public option” — was part of the health reform discussion until it came threateningly close to becoming law, at which point it was discarded. [...]
Part of the ambivalence for Democrats turning independent is the rightward march of the Democratic party under Obama. However, that doesn’t mean these people won’t vote for Obama in 2012 given no other choice. However, the rightward tilt of Democrats, as well as their undemocratic governance on health care, has put the activism level on shrug, leaning towards uninvolved. There simply is no way there will be the enthusiasm for Obama that was seen in 2008. Whether you’re talking Missouri, Nevada or Virginia, Obama has likely already kissed these states goodbye, the Bush states he won in 2008 already trending away from him, with Pennsylvania turning negative for Pres. Obama in the latest Quinnipiac.
Looking beyond Obama, as much as I like and appreciate Joe Biden, he’s not exactly a 21st century candidate when you look to 2016. The possibility reminds me of a George H.W. Bush situation after Reagan had eight years. That’s assuming Barack Obama will rally Democratic enthusiasm, including young people and women, to hold the presidency in 2012.
Where is the woman on the left who can make headlines and draw crowds like Sarah Palin, Liz Cheney, perhaps even a re-entry of Dr. Condoleezza Rice?
The “Hillary hole” is as wide and deep for Democrats as ever, with no Sarah Palin alternative anywhere in sight.
The heat is on the right.
Great Question Taylor.
But extend it. Where is the Left’s everybody? Anyone with Conviction. People are thirsting for leaders who will stand up for what they believe in. Sadly I cannot think of anyone on the in politics on the Left.
The point re: women is that there is going to be a woman president in the near future. It’s an idea whose time has come, with Democrats having not one single FEMALE candidate that is representative of someone who is ready, has charisma and can draw crowds.
It’s not that people won’t TALK with conviction. Obama did plenty of talking. It’s how they lead that matters.
I’m a huge fan of Brian Schweitzer. But then again, he’s not a woman.
It would be truly sad if the right makes history with the first female president, especially considering they’re against women’s self-determination, equal pay, etc. etc. etc.
Ah! You misunderstand me. I did not mean “talking with conviction”. That’s nothing. Zero. Zilch. I meant HAVING CONVICTION — saying what you mean, being principled. People who do not cave. People with cohones. IMO every single PROGRESSIVE CONGRESSIONAL Democrat is spineless. No matter how big they TALKED from Weiner to Sanders to Boxer to Pelosi to Clyburn to Conyers, they ALL caved.
In other words, I am looking for a Democrat like Coburn who will say I believe in the a woman’s right to Choose and if this bill does not have it I will stand here until I drop. And do it. At least he tried. Believe in something. The Dems believe in nothing.
I also love Brian S. Met him at a fund-raiser once, great guy. But he’s not a Congressional Dem.
Got it. Agreed.
Looking at the presidential going forward is why I mentioned Schweitzer.
I like Schweitzer too.
I don’t think it will be truly sad. I think it will be a great accomplishment. Too bad you don’t agree with Sarah’s politics.
There is no doubt you are correct, cjoblak, it would be a “great accomplishment” for women. I can say that without any problem.
It does rankle my feminist, freedom loving soul that the right’s policy prescriptions are not good for women.
Democrats have led on women’s rights for decades, but they haven’t nurtured them in the national scheme of things, so I guess in one respect they’re getting what’s owed.
That said, Mrs. Palin is being spurned by the Republican establishment too. That happens on both sides of the aisle.
“I know, you’re shocked. But love her or hate her, whether she runs in 2012 or not, when you look at the left, the reality is there’s no anti-Palin progressive who matches what Palin’s got.”
And just what is it that “Palin’s got”? Appeal for the lunatic fringe of the party?
You’ve got Palin derangement syndrome, secularh, but you’ve got lots of company. I’ll just say you don’t draw crowds in Searchlight, NV, whether they were from out of state or not, by being boring and uncharismatic; same for Minnesota.
I’ll let someone who supports Sarah explain the rest, if they look in or stop by…
I agree with you secular so not only do I have Hillary derangement syndrome I now have Palin derangement syndrome as well. I wonder if there’s a cure? I sure hope not. Peace
I really hope there is no “left’s Sarah Palin” …
I can’t handle one more person who can draw crowds just for spouting nonsense even if she is liberal …
BTW people “stand for what they believe in” UNTIL they actually WIN an election …
Then REALITY sets in …
Or maybe it’s that people “want us to think they are standing for what they say they believe in.” The standing and believing REALITY is reserved for when the tiny insider crowd is comfortably seated together somewhere without the very big majority of outsiders to watch or listen — maybe DC. Maybe Wall Street. Maybe a corporate board room.
Too bad Jennifer Granholm is Canadian.
Oh, by the way….Hillary ain’t no Leftist. She’s a hawk which puts her in the right wing, neocon camp on foreign policy. On domestic issues she’s a moderate. Peace
“The ‘Hillary hole’ is as wide and deep for Democrats as ever, with no Sarah Palin alternative anywhere in sight. The heat is on the right.”
Obama killed any chance of this for the left by trashing the brand. Why even try to be a “progressive” any more? Why vote?? We elect the first black man ever to be president of the United States and we get George Bush on steroids, except he’s a nice guy and has a hip wife. Wall Street all the way. War, torture, blah-blah-blah.
The mechanism is broken now. Get out the vote? Are we kidding?!? Yes, I know they’re just as mendacious and hypocritical on the right, but their voters don’t realize that yet.
One thing about Palin, she comes across as authentic, speaks forth her thoughts (such as they are) without teleprompter or close scripting.
Pilgrim…Palin does read from teleprompter and sometimes from her hand…lol
People are swooning for Palin the same way they swooned for Obama in 2008…One thing is for sure in 2012…Obama and Palin will cross paths again…were one can bank on that fact…
She did use the teleprompter for her well-delivered speech at ’08 Republican convention, and she has been known to use notes on her hand, alright, but I don’t think she was relying on teleprompter in recent Minnesota speech. I usually watch for that. It was an off-putting habit of candidate Obama. Hillary Clinton rarely if ever used teleprompter. She did use written notes/manuscript effectively and came across with better authenticity.
She could also speak extemporaneously in sentences and paragraphs without numerous “uh’s”, “ah’s”, “er’s”, etc.
Pilgrim….Sound like you have a small case of Obama derangement…lol Look I am sure Sarah Palin appeals to you an millions of fellow American voters…but her so called “authenticity” does nothing for me. Obama does nothing for me as well I find his “uh’s”, “ah’s”, “er’s” annoying…But compared to Sarah Palin I trust him better for some reason…
It may because I am a Independent that leans liberal often. I wish Sarah Palin luck in 2012 she will needed…if her fans think Obama will be an easy kill do to his relying on teleprompter’s as a sign of his stupidity…they will be in for a shocker..every candidate I have watched this guy run up against has written him off as stupid,weak,irrelevant. Yet, he ended of being President and they fell by the wayside. Palin is not to be underestimate either…She has killer political instincts that will get her very far…
In the end, Sarah Palin still suffers from cross over appeal she will need to eventually reach out to minorities in order to win the White House. Minorities will have grown in “Much” larger numbers by 2012 and will prove a huge hurtle for Mrs. Palin. Her and Obama both have their weakness and strength going into 2012…
I don’t think Sarah will run for President in 2012. I do think she will be the “King” maker for the Republican party. I believe in the next two years she will visit all of the states and create a true grassroots enthusiasm that will turn out to elect whomever she supports. People will view her as genuine – something I think that Obama lacks. Even if they don’t agree with her, since she won’t be running herself she will influence elections nationwide. The organization that was built to elect Obama no longer exists and I don’t think can be rebuilt. I don’t think that the Democratic Party can expect the same level of support from so many people in 2012 that they did in 2008 because on the negative impact on so many of us.
I think you may be right…My husband suggest the same thing about Palin Political future three months ago to me. However, my gut tells me she will run and has a very high chance of winning becoming the first woman to win the Republican nomination. If she does well against Obama like I think she can…it only takes one good debate between her and him…for people to see her as a serious contender for the White House…She reminds me of Regan & Thatcher rolled up all in one.
Sarah Palin knows if she works really hard over the next three years promoting herself in time she will gain more voters trust. I wish Dems would see the power an potential this woman has to be the First Female President. If they did then they would stop pretending she is not a threat…As for Obama don’t count him out…never make the mistakes his political enemies have done…They didn’t call Obama “The Community Organizer” for nothing. It’s his great strength in how he can at the last minute pull a coalition together…
I also think its sort of ironic that the Republicans were the first to put a woman on the supreme court…right after Dems put the first Black man on it. Now once again it appears Republicans are heading toward putting the First Woman into the highest office of the land…Go Figure!!! It looks like history is repeating itself.
Only IF that history is being written by the Texas Education Board …
That woman is NOT winning the Presidency in these Americas !
I wish I could say with confidence your right…But the way things are looking it will be a knock down drag out fight in 2012 between her and Obama…lol
Seriously … I am getting tired of this “she speaks her mind” nonsense … A kindergartner can speak their minds too !
How about laying down some credible plans aside from ATTACKING the other persons PLANS or just repeating slogans over and over again …
I mean, at least Obama laid out what he was going to do as President … Turns out he was willing to compromise more than expected to achieve his goals BUT at least he laid out the framework so as his supporters knew what to expect and gauge where he gave up too much to the GOP to achieve some goals ( like the PO in the Healthcare reform package … )
Screaming tax cuts, drilling or “nucular” buildup DOES NOT spell out a credible policy to ME, ESPECIALLY IF at the same time the same people are screaming for DECREASED SPENDING !
hc4bo…Sorry, to say this about my fellow Americans but Sarah Palin simple repeated rhetoric does wonders for her base. Yes, screaming tax cuts over and over has gotten many past U.S. Presidents elected. Biggest example, Ronald Regan never improved the economy but because he was more likable then Carter…he was reelected twice. Sarah Palin just like Regan has the gift to make certain people in small town America feel at ease.
The Obama’s make these people feel uncomfortable…He is constant reminder that “their America” is changing an they don’t like it. Sarah Palin is telling them in so many words it will be morning again in America once I’m in the White House…Americans or notorious for electing people her into higher office…Remember George Bush won twice…
Palin is just another cheap celebrity such as we seem to specialize in creating in America these days. The Gosselins (sp?), Madonna, Lady Gaga, Tiger Woods–you name it. Some of these achieve things, some don’t, but they are all grist for our tabloid-minded culture. When Michael Jackson died the outpouring of grief was fueled by desire to own a bit of his fame; so is the participatory delusion of American Idol or Dancing with the Stars.
So, maybe Palin is just what people want these days. But please, don’t ask for us on the left to look for one of our own. It is an insult to Hillary to even think of Palin in these terms.
Can we possibly get any stupider?? Speaking your mind is not at all popular, say, in West Virginia if your husband works for the Massey Company. Yet when Sarah blathers on like an idiot, she is praised. I guess I am just an old Left Coast grouch–but hey, I’m speaking my mind.
Somewhere Madonna is weeping that her name was mentioned alongside Sarah Palin…
lol
I don’t no if Sarah Palin is going to run in 2012 or not. She could run for another office too such as senate or congress. I do no is that Sarah Palin is the only one I am seeing in the republican party that can raise the cash and get the large crowds. I don’t even no if she will run as a Republican or Independent. Taylor was right,from what I am seeing from this poll is that there are still people that are 20% undecided and 17% say they haven’t heard enough about her. So with all the media attacks on her, there is a good portion of people that are undecided about her. I don’t see right now a woman on the left that can get the crowds and headlines like Sarah Palin can. Because Hillary Clinton is more or likely the way she is talking is going to be leaving politics “I don’t blame her” its not looking good for the left when it becomes to a woman taking center stage. By the way, where are all these polls on Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee,and the other guys. This does not seem fair, but the media and fairness to women do not go hand in hand.
Your right were or the polls on the guys?…I believe the media is hyping Sarah Palin up…I have heard Mike Huckabee to Mitt Romney say just as outlandish things about Obama more then Palin at her rallies…Yet, the media practically ignores these guys…lol
They need to sale papers and pushing an Obama vs Palin narrative sales for these folks at Fox news etc… Palin attracts the same adorning cheering crowds that Obama did in 2008…The left suffers from Obamabots and now the right will have to deal with Palinbots…ugh!!!
Taylor-I think I get what you are saying. Maybe not. And I am not trying to put words into your mouth with this post, but rather express my point of view…
As a woman, I felt completely kicked to the curb in 2008. Everybody was walking on eggs not to come across as racist, but nobody gave a flying F_CK if they came across as sexist. Hillary was called the “C” word by the likes of Bill Maher and an Effing HO by someone of her own gender…Randi Rhodes of Liberal Talk radio. Kieth Olbermann wanted somebody to take her out to the woodshed to beat her and not have her come back…a comment that he later apologized for, but good grief, can you imagine the uproar had a pundit made a similar comment about Obama…well…never mind….
I only grew to be a Hillary supporter after watching her campaign and debate, and I say to myself now: “Will there ever be a better qualified woman than Hillary on the horizon to run this country?”
I don’t see one, but here you have Sarah Palin who appeals to the masses. Men from all walks of life will vote for Sarah because she has a Angelina Jolie Tomb Raider Quality about her: A Sexy Looking Woman in Stilettos porting a Semi-automatic weapon who is willing to take out Bambi, Nuke the Whales and Skin the Wolves…She is the fantasy of our mostly Neanderthal male gender who thinks with the organ that is several feet south of their brains.
And all you have to do is look at the guy who was on the Today Show this morning trying to defend the “Man’s Point of View” of the Tiger Woods syndrome of multi-tasking cheating on his wife.
My prayer to the men AND women who trashed and bashed and exposed an unashamedly sexist attitude towards Hillary in 2008 is: “May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of you all and may your arms be too short to reach…”
hahahaha…hey ladywalker glad to see you back
ladywalker68 says:
09 April 2010 at 5:15 am
OMG – you’re too funny! I think you are right.