–updated–
When Sarah Palin came on to the scene Michele Bachmann was a mere frump of her present persona. She’s taken a page from Palin to up her profile and her wardrobe, because just like Sarah, she wants to be a contender. Needless to say, the politics of these two conservative women are not mine, but I find their predicament telling about Republicans, because it’s what I’ve written about for years and years, particularly when Condoleezza Rice was made a moving chess piece inside Bush World. Never given any real authority, just like what happened to Christie Todd Whitman, Republicans seem to want to parade women as seen but not heard or given power.
That women like Palin and Bachmann had to wait until a Tea Party wing was establishmed to make themselves heard is the most telling thing about Republicanism and conservatism today. Remember it was only the moderate GOP women of the Senate who voted for the Lily Ledbetter Act, not the men.
They’ll take Palin’s power driven voter GOTV, as well as her fundraising chops; take Bachmann’s money machine, too, but when it comes time to assign real responsibility and power, the boys win out.
Kathleen Parker addresses the Republican Tea Party’s Palin problem today. The bottom line for Parker is “Can’t live with her, can’t live without her.”
She who can rouse the base like none other is now She to Whom Respect Must Be Paid. Like it or not.
Many within the so-called party establishment don’t quite know what to do about Palin. She’s adored by Tea Partyers, to whom she conveniently attached herself as soon as she sensed a shift in the air. A rogue like Palin isn’t going to let a rogue movement fill a stadium – or a desert – without her.
Why should Sarah Palin allow the Republican establishment to take credit for the energy she inspired in the historic Tea Party energy that took Pres. Obama and Democrats to their knees after his exalting election just two years ago?
For that matter, why should Michele Bachmann allow the Republican boys’ club, led by the diminutive Eric Cantor no less, tell her she hasn’t the right stuff for leadership. I’d like to see Cantor raise the money for his party that Bachmann did for the midterms. He’d fall flat on his pinched, impish puss. The challenge by Bachmann a “man up” moment if ever there was one.
We’re just now finding sexism goes both ways. We’ve come a long way… bitch. Because don’t you dare call me “baby.”
Their fortitude and tenacity to shred the Republican old boys’ club to smithereens in the name of a new brand of female power is something the Democrats could sure use. Democrats have talented women, but they’re not taking on the party structure or challenging the current leaders to demand a new direction like women on the Right. In fact, progressive women in Congress caved to Pelosi’s health care concoction, which brought religion into the dealmaking, bill writing room, something that no progressive should ever condone. For the cave-in Democrats got their asses handed to them and rightly so.
And while we’re at it, let’s note it was the progressives in Congress who are responsible for the horrific health care bill passing, while many a Blue Dog voted against it. If you’re being consistent and knew the health care bill was a killer it’s something all people in favor of effective legislation should find hard swallowing.
The exciting political energy remains on the Right, with conservative females like Palin and Bachmann showing real guts and tenacity, while obliterating the big party rules to shake things up. You don’t have to share the politics to see so far that it’s much more exciting than anything that is currently going on on the Left.
The trouble for both Palin and Bachmann is they have very little, if any, establishment support. In our two-party system this matters.
Kathleen Parker was the first vocal critic of Palin, with Peggy Noonan calling her a “nincompoop” recently, nincompoopism something Ms. Noonan knows a lot about. Both of these women illustrating their inner elitism, but also their indoctrination, missing by a mile that without the Tea Party Republicans wouldn’t have had near the win this midterms.
The Tea Party energy inspired and led by Palin, but also Bachman, riled up voters who might have simply stayed home, making a closer election much more likely.
The ranting of Rove and his old boys’ club, however, wasn’t joined by Jeb Bush, let us remember, his “you betcha” she’s qualified a first for the intellectual wing of Republican conservatism. After all, how could he be against Sarah Palin for president when he knows George W. Bush was just a tutoring away from her back in 1999-2000. The Rove establishment Palin angst revealing just how scared the establishment is of the women rising on the Right.
At least Kathleen Parker is finally acknowledging what was obvious all along. Without Sarah Palin’s power and her fans, regardless of whether she’s successful in running for president, the Republicans will never be able to pull off in 2012 what they’ve already begun organizing to do. Taking the Congress back in a big way and putting Mitt Romney or some other pasty white male in the White House.
At the very least, the Tea Party crowd should shoot for vice president. They’ve got females who can do the job, but the contender has always been Marco Rubio, someone who should scare the crap out of Democrats. He has the potential to realign the parties forever. If the economy continues to falter, and Obama continues his word salad promises, Afghanistan push, and conservative incomprehension, given the losses in PA, FL, Ohio and beyond, Obama will be up against it and so will Democrats.
Parker finally gets that without Palin and Bachmann, the Republicans will steal defeat from a possible 2012 victory, which will become easier if Obama continues to tack rightward, because he’ll just keep demoralizing his base until no one is left.
UPDATE: Michele Bachmann dropped out of the leadership fight later today.
articles like this are why i read your site everyday. excellent.
did you catch that politico story recently–something like ‘Next up for GOP: Stopping Palin in 2012′ with all these anonymous advisers to wannabe republican contenders trashing Palin all over the place? how on earth NEWT GINGRICH is in the possible running/thinking/etc. without being laughed at all over the place is incredible. The fact that that boob is part of the discussion but they are closing ranks to leave Palin out speaks volumes on their sexism.
seems that both parties are run by mad men/old boys club. they don’t want to give smart, powerful women credit–or actual power. on the right something interesting is unfolding, whether it’s pushback or goin’ rogue or whatever.
I really appreciate this, politicsnootch. Thanks so much for taking the time to chime in.
Yes, I saw that article, even wrote something about it somewhere.
Women still have a hard slog, that’s for sure.
Michele Bachmann dropped out of the leadership fight today.
I like this post, Taylor.
Too bad Left and Right women can’t unite to beat the Old boys club.
I believe if we did, we could accomplish much good.
Left and Right women uniting — now that would be fun to see. It would scare establishment types on both sides so much that that they might be shocked into reality, even if only momentarily. Or then again, they might unite to put the women back in their party places.
Just what I was thinking….but why not? The question is whether it is possible for Palin or Bachman to moderate their views enough to attract the center. I wonder if they have considered that. But Palin and Bachman should hold a seminar for Democratic women on how to really fight against sexism. But it is clear that many women of all views are angry about their exclusion from power.
The sexism Sarah Palin is facing on the right has been going on for a while…but unlike Hillary Clinton…Sarah plans to take it head on and not place nice. That is the one and only thing I admire about Palin…she is a woman that refuse to let the good ole boys still her thunder…lol
I think Sarah Palin biggest hurdle for 2012 will not be in defeating Obama…but Republican male elites. These guys will do everything humanly possible to stop Mrs. Palin. As for Obama he has been nothing but a “huge” disappointment. I honestly still don’t know if I will vote for Obama again in 2012.
The man is totally tone deaf to his base and treatments them like crap…Lucky, for Obama that the Republicans are so batshit crazy that they make him look sort of good for 2012 reelection.
Batshit crazy did not seem to put people off when it came to the midterms.
I don’t know what people like Rove think they can do about the base that they have been cultivating for years and their love affair with Palin? She seems to have that quality so important to winners,she just won’t stay down after a punch.
Every time I hear some pundit say that the WH would love to have Palin head the other ticket I cringe. I wonder how many Dems said that about Reagan?
I agree…I wouldn’t want her in the general election. She not be an easy opponent. The midterm results were filled with mostly “Angry” middle age Republican voters. The general in 2012 will have much more diverse voters in large numbers. Obama will no doubt have an uphill battle no matter the Republican nominee.
However, if his opponent ends up being Sarah Palin the battle field will be on even ground…since both are so polarizing. For now, Palin biggest hurdle is making the Republican elite getting behind her possible presidential run. If they don’t fall in line she will not make to far in the primaries.
insightful. Watching a train wreck is painful…especially when it was preventable.
Last night Eliot Spitzer said next to Bill Clinton that Palin has the best political skills going today.Taking cookies to the kids in a state that is thinking of taking all sugar out of the schools was pure genius.Don’t get me wrong I am all for schools having a more nutitious breakfast and lunch programs but the people she is appealing to are sick and tired of elites looking down their noses and telling them what is good for them.
As an aside, after working with middle and high school kids for 32 years I know their desire for sugar,what rules like that will do is create little businessmen and women who will become the “sugar pushers” in each school. A better approach to me seems to try to educate kids on good choices and moderation. Another would be too give them what they like in a more nutitious form,sweet potato fries cooked in the oven, pizza with vegtable toppings,whole wheat crusts, and lots of squash cooked into the sauce,same with spaghetti sauce and whole wheat pasta,vegtables and yogurt dip. I do it with Sam all the time.
Palin does have great political skills…but she lacks deeply in other areas of importance that it takes to be President of the United States of America. Her cheap political stunts seem to hit the right nerves for now…but if she does happen to become President…they won’t seem so great anymore…when were all stuck with another President lacking knowledge of how to handle a harsh economic reality.
Is that the narrative now? I think the more important emotion in this election was apathy – both on the part of ordinary people who didn’t bother voting, and on the progressives and other activists who didn’t see why they should try to persuade them to.
The Democrats failed to govern, and screwed their base. That’s the reason they lost so badly.
I’ve been writing since NY-23 about the rise on the Right. I’m convinced that the Tea Party energy was the biggest factor and no one can convince me otherwise. Not talking about you, Cujo359, but just about everyone on the Left decided to demonize the Tea Party, feeling more comfortable with a “they’re racist” or “stupid” strategy, while opining about foreign contributions. The White House ignored the Tea Party, but also Sarah Palin, which was arrogant, stupid and costly.
There was no doubt apathy on the Left, not suggesting there wasn’t.
But you don’t get the historic wins the Republican Tea Party manifested simply on apathy from the Left. To think so is to deny the facts.
In Virginia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and I could go on and on, the rage from the Right, but also the fury against health care as well as Pres. Obama was very real. Voters registered it at the polls.
anger is a very big part of it…
Taylor,
Why are we discussing Republicans, Palin and Bachmann? Are we hoping they might come a little to the Left so we might then vote for them? I stopped reading Andrew Sullivan’s blogsite, The Daily Dish, years ago because it had become Sarah Palin Central. Why is that happening here? Please stop the ambulance gawking, thanks.
The Tea Parties are old news as they shall now be defunded by the billionaires. The Super Rich have never wanted smaller government, they just want their taxes cut. Borrow it from China and move on is their goal. They do NOT agree with Tea Partiers and got what they wanted out of those *tools* (GOP is in majority of House where *our* money is) and are done with them until further notice.
Left and Right women uniting in what? Women on the Right don’t consider women’s rights to be be even crucial for their votes. Do you, Joyce?
Today’s most RELEVANT news that affects EVERY American?!? The Catfood Commission chairmen released their own report, to which, that centrist, moderate “Third Way” came out, fully endorsed and demanded to be voted upon now. Of course, as expected, they want to cut SS and Medicare, drastically and give more taxcuts to Wall Street. It is outrageous and leads me to the following rant, below:
“When pygmies cast such long shadows, it must be very late in the day.” GIAN-CARLO ROTA
It is indeed very late in the day for our American empire. Learn Chinese. Calling Rosetta Stone Inc.
If Democrats are so wholly owned themselves by the corporatist Oligarchy that they can’t end a failed policy, in Bush’s taxcuts to the richest, that will benefit the 98% of people in America who earn less than a quarter million dollars a year, if they have compromised SO much in under a decade by moving to the right, then there is no f*cking point voting anymore for them because what I am essentially getting by voting Democratic in the future is the Republican party of 2002.
Obama, the Republicans and their kin, DINOs in DC, now will cut SS and Medicare, retain Bush’s taxcuts to the richest and give MORE taxcuts to Wall Street. I have a message to them: “Hey, remember that time we cut taxes for all the rich people and then at the end of the decade EVERYONE LOST THEIR JOBS AND THEIR HOMES???”
We didn’t get ObamaCare, we got JoeLIEbermanCare. This was the bill Joe Lieberman would sign, anything less corporatist wasn’t going to get signed by Joe Lieberman, or Ben Nelson or Mark Warner or Evan Bayh or Blanche Lincoln or Max Baucus or Kent Conrad or Mary Pryor or Mary Landrieu. They took the Republican position of Mitt Romney from the 90′s. The formula of the kabuki is pathetically predictable at this point: Republican throws hissy fit, Dems cave on an issue and move right, David Broder becomes aroused and the center becomes the far right from five minutes ago.
On the jobs front, Obama refused to follow the lead of Christina Romer, head of his Council of Economic Advisers, or the recommendations of Nobel Prize winners Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz. All three said he needed a stimulus package that was at least 50 percent larger than the one he proposed. Nor did he propose a new WPA, like FDR did when the country faced a similar, if not quite so staggering, free fall. Obama was afraid to come on too strong. So he came on too weak.
Same on the banking front. Obama could have, and should have, nationalized Bank of America and Citibank, or at the very least, compelled them to halt foreclosures and write down the principal on all their mortgages by 25 or 30 percent. But Obama didn’t get anything from the banks in exchange for the hundreds of billions of dollars the Treasury doled out, and the trillions in guarantees. And so the bankers laughed all the way to the vault, and even some Republicans scored by running commercials against Democrats who voted for the bailout.
Same on the environment. Obama sold out the cause at Copenhagen, and with amazingly bad timing he came out for offshore drilling just weeks before the BP disaster, in hopes, again, of getting concessions from Republicans and from industry.
Taylor, yes, we can just blame Obama as you do, but all the Democrats in DC followed Obama over that cliff, making them ALL to blame! Not just him. The problem is in the party’s principles themselves, or lack thereof. Candidates come and go, but they all sell out to Wall Street in the end. Democratic base further isolated and not represented. Why vote for that?
The Republican party is the party of decades ago, when black people knew their damned place, gay people were institutionalized and women shut their mouths unless they agreed. The party of a century ago with the same Hoovernomics they’ve always had, whether they’ve dressed it up as “Rugged Individualism” or “Free Markets”. The GOP wants to live in a world where they can do all the same things they were up to BEFORE the Great Depression and FDR. If the Democrats are trying to meet the GOP in the middle on that, f*ck them, they are worthless to me.
If both American political parties are dominated by conservatives who prefer Milton Friedman style “unfettered free market” economics that serve only to enrich the already rich at the expense of everyone else, then our Democracy is a joke. If both the Democratic and Republican parties are corrupt and doing only the bidding of the rich people who bribe them with campaign donations then there is no choice, there is no difference, and there is no point to voting because the game is RIGGED.
I STRONGLY suggest trying to enact good policies for the working class that will uncompromisingly stand up to the super rich and their corporate trusts. Do that and then loudly campaign on your best accomplishments. That will help you win over voters.
But if you are just going to eventually agree with the GOP on things like taxcuts, or Mountain Top Removal mining, or deep water off shore drilling, or the Patriot Act, or the Public Option, or DADT/DOMA, or staying at war another year or another decade or in another country, if Democrats are just selling old failed republican ideas and selling out the best interests of We The People then our Democracy really is a joke.
Yes, there are good Democrats, but few and far between. On the right there is no hope, just cynicism, corruption and deceit. The closer you are to the right, the farther you are from me and my interests. That is why I don’t vote Republican. If Democrats can’t figure out that doing a *moderate* Republican impersonation for last two years will not earn them enough votes to win elections then they are doing it on purpose and our Democracy is a total f*cking joke, because whether you voted for them or not your going to get some version of Milton Friedman’s trickle down Reaganomics. Most Democrats didn’t vote for that thirty years ago. Why the hell would we want it now?
Ronc99, it is the thinking you are doing about not taking the Tea Party seriously that got the Democrats in trouble.
Pumpkin, take your head out of the sand and take a breath.
Ronc99 – I cover important political stories whether the Left approves of what I’m writing or not.
Sarah Palin is as important a political story as I’ve seen in a long time and I started following politics seriously as a teen.
Michele Bachmann was a financial player in the midterms.
Conservative women made a serious move this year. If you think I shouldn’t cover it then you’re simply wrong.
Mr. Sullivan has Palin derangement syndrome.
I cover conservative women seriously. There’s a big difference.
The point is where are the Democratic fighting women? Why is there a Palin and Bachman who are bucking the establishment but no one on the left or the center? Because you need to be able to fight to win. Obama is a loser…and he is taking everyone down with him…and by down…I mean into the arms of the establishment Republicans. But on the right, they have more fight. Senator Coburn is a fighter on many issues with his party. Gee, most of the Republicans know how to fight…that’s why they win.
nationalizng the banks would have been a disaster. Which countries are you thinking of that have nationalized banks and a successful economy?
Great Post Taylor !! I think more women voted for the republicans in the midterms than democrats and I don’t think that has happened before because dems always get more women votes. Sarah Palin is a threat to Rove and the rest of the elite in the republican party. Sarah Palin seems to be more of a working class advocate than alot of the guys in her party. Look what happened in the midterms, republican women won governorships that never had a woman governor before. First Hispanic woman governor of New Mexico is a woman, the first Indian-American woman governor Nikki Haley from South Carolina. The first woman governor of Oklahoma is also a republican. The guys better face facts, for the first time women are winning seats, and governorships and that scares the sh*t out of the elite good old boys in Washington and I am loving it. Sarah Palin had a hugh influence of that in her party and Hillary Clinton as a whole had a hugh influence for women in politics. Its about damm time too !!!
Another great post Taylor. You are forging ahead with a narrative that does not toe the conventional left loser line. You are so right….women on the left have allowed themselves to be silenced. There were more women in the Democratic party…including the so called lefty Pelosi…and she is directly responsible for using her power to bring us Obama….and then, when she knew he was screwing the people who elected him…she didn’t fight back…The progressives could have stopped the crappy health bill. They didn’t. They threatened and promised they would fight…and they caved…which made them look even weaker. And then they lose respect. No one likes a wimp. Female or male. Leaders lead and fight. That’s why so many women and men deserted the Democrats…and they were right. This is an important conversation that no one is having. Keep fighting. That’s how we change the narrative. We don’t take the crap. All the pundits are being paid off….Wasn’t it Newsweek that listed the salaries of all these liars? It is tough to give up that type of money for principle. Yet they criticize Palin for making big money and still fighting the establishment. I give her credit. She is no less qualified than Bush. And I don’t recall that Reagan was a genius either. Bachman and Palin are taking risks by challenging the big money. And they are not going quietly into the night. As far as I’m concerned…making Karl Rove really really mad at her…is a positive for Palin. Rachel sold out and mouths the establishment elite line. And most of the frightened Democrats won’t even revolt against the Pelosi lousy leadership…for fear they will lose some position. It’s pathetic. And who wants to vote for a pathetic party.
Bachman, by the way, is no dummy. She’s a smart lawyer who panders effectively to her constituents. Her problem was that she didn’t share enough of the cash she raised with other republicans…so no leadership position. Instead, a guy from Texas gets it.
I wonder how much he donated, really?
That explanation didn’t quite make sense to me. I’ve not heard that he’s a big fundraiser supporting candidates. I’ve definitely heard that she did.
And finally…what have Democratic female politicians done for us lately? Caved to everything? What if the Democratic female senators stood together? But it’s always Ben Nelson who gets his way…or the more conservative Dems withholding their vote. No hardball by our women. Yes, I like Palin’s fighter instinct…Because Kerry, Dukakis, and Mondale were losers and wimps…and if Democratic women really want change, they will have to change. Because our supposed women’s liberal organizations do nothing for women’s rights. When push comes to shove, they are silent. Why give them money for nothing. Democrats attacked the fighting Clintons…both of them.
And you are right about Rubio too. Which is why I mentioned Manchurian candidate. The Democrats will have no one voting for them soon. The Hispanics will be gone and the Congress will be reapportioned to favor Republicans. This is suicide. We must ask why? We can’t afford any more weakness. The stakes are too high. Retaining the same Democratic leadership after the disaster of the midterms is crazy…So we must keep challenging those who have perpetuated it. And I would prefer Palin to any of Rove’s choices…Obama is now perceived as weak by the world. He will not be re elected. The sooner people see that and look for a challenger, the better. But certainly a lot of women are angry about what happened to Hillary at the hands of the Democratic elite…So instead of Hillary, there is Palin. A vacuum is filled.
But why is Palin judged on a different standard than Reagan or Bush? Reagan wasn’t even sentient during his second term.
klassicheart says:
11 November 2010 at 12:58 am
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AMEN
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN
& AMEN
And what is Palin and Bachmann doing for so called woman’s rights issues?
setting an example for Republican women….Because women who fight are not welcome in the Democratic party. Democrats prefer passive wimps who go along to get along. They are the get along party willing to compromise everything to avoid a fight. They’re afraid to lose and afraid to win. Palin sets an example of being fearless. Especially fearless in the smug face of Karl Rove. Now that is balls. And most people prefer balls to brains. Because brains without balls is useless. Bill Clinton had both. And the Democratic elite attacked him, our most successful President …That’s called suicidal and stupid. Obama praised Reagan and demeaned Clinton. And the liberal elite sucked it up…That’s pathetic. Palin is not pathetic. What is pathetic is the liberal elite making fun of her as they lose the most seats in Congress since 1948. Who are the stupid one?
Democratic women sure could take a page out of Michele Bachmann’s and Sarah Palin’s book. These women buck the establishment every day. They have guts. I came to grudgingly admire Sarah Palin when she took on the good ol’ boys here in Alaska. She is a worthy opponent and she stands for something for godsake! I may not walk in lockstep with her politically, but I’d place my bet on Palin’s leadership over that of Barack Obama’s anyday. I remember 4 years ago when Nancy Pelosi ascended to the Speakership and how proud I was. Not now. She is a disaster–a real embarrassment. If Dems are smart, they will toss aside at least one of the three stooges (Obama, Reid and Pelosi)and block the doors to her getting back into any leadership position again.
Totally agree. But losers often don’t perceive themselves as losers…especially the arrogant ones. They are curiously unable to be self reflective. Because they are heroes in their own mind….saving people from themselves. But Obama is in a league of his own. He is quite literally an embarrassment to the country. He and Axelrod are the perfect duo…they reflect each other…and fail to see the big picture. But life goes on, as does reality, and in the real world, Obama is perceived as the wimp and loser that he is. This is dangerous. And it will not last. There is a serious leadership vacuum…and everyone feels it…Obama is completely out of his depth.
And between common sense and brainpower, I’d take common sense. Pelosi, Reid and Obama don’t seem to have any…along with the entire Democratic leadership who supported Obama. The ones who have come out against Pelosi are seeing the light. But there aren’t very many of them…not a good sign.
One thing that the establishment is worried about is correct regarding Palin. She will call it like she sees it, whether it serves them or not.
She poked some real fun at Rove when he was handing the Democrats every attack point needed to defeat O’Donnell. It was pretty interesting to watch.
And their argument is that Independents aren’t swayed by her. I’m not quite sure they are right about that.
There’s something called position power versus real power. She’s got one whale of a lot of the latter. People say they don’t think she’s qualified. Meanwhile, they really agree with her on issues, and they identify with her far more than with other establishment figures.
I personally see her running, doing well, NOT winning the nomination, accruing even more clout by running, and then ending up on the ticket as VP.
We shall see.