Truer words were never spoken..

Michale.....

My bust... :D

Michale.....

A minor point -

It's 1/3 of the Senate, not 2/3.

:-)

-CW

Yer kidding, right?

With the way things are shaping up (or more accurately, shaping down) it is becoming more and more likely that the 2010 mid-terms is going to be 1994 all over again.

With Scheme & Ream becoming the largest tax hike in history that does absolutely NOTHING to curb emissions (that, apparently, have nothing to do with Global temps anyways) and health care well on it's way to being the same and doing the same 'nothing' for healthcare issues (see CW's new commentary) and with most of the House seats and 2/3rds of Senate seats up for grabs in 2010, it's a safe bet that, unless something dramatic happens that favors Democrats, their so-called Super Majority days are numbered.

It's not as if they ever accomplished anything with a majority anyways. It's been.. what??... going on 4 years of a Democrat majority in Congress..

To paraphrase Janet Jackson, "What have they done for us lately??"

Naw, it's not heat I am feeling.. It's more of a warm fuzzy, knowing that something else I predicted is likely to come to pass... :D

Don't get me wrong. In this case, I would LOVE to be proven wrong. I would love it if Democrats actually did something that would actually accomplish something that would be good for this country..

I just don't see it happening...

Michale.....

I liked the next paragraph, too. I think I may use it sometime.

I think you should put the lot of us into that category...CW and the Twisted Cynics. Everyone will want to join!

Are ya feeling the heat, yet?

Fair enough..

My Palin point has always been that she and her family has put up with abuse from the Left that would have sent the Left into high orbit had that same abuse come from the Right directed towards someone on the Left.

Which simply re-enforces what I have always said. That, with few exceptions, the Left has de-evolved into nothing more than a mirror image of the Right. It used to be that Liberals could claim the moral high ground when it came to tolerance and acceptance of differing ideas..

Not anymore.. These days, it's all but impossible to tell the Left from the Right based on their actions towards the other.

As I said, there are exceptions.. But it's those exceptions that simply make the rule all the more glaringly obvious.

Michale.....

I liked the next paragraph better:

"Whether Palin has a national future or not will depend on her willingness to hit the books at some point and absorb more information about international history and politics than she has needed to know in her role as governor. She also needs a shrewder, cooler take on the mainstream media, with its preening bullies, cackling witches, twisted cynics and pompous windbags. The Northeastern media establishment is in decline, and everyone knows it. Palin should not have gotten into a slanging match with David Letterman or anyone else who has been obsessively defaming her or her family. Let surrogates do that stuff."

Given the listed choices, I think I'll put myself in the "twisted cynics" category, just because it has a nice Twister-Sister-like ring to it.

heh.

-CW

Unfortunately, it's pretty obvious that Palin still lacks that cadre of trusted pros who are the invisible elves behind every successful national politician -- the assistants who gather and vet material and who filter proposals and plan logistics. In a way, this is part of her virtues -- her complete freedom from routine micromanagement and business as usual. She does her own thing with seat-of-the-pants gusto. It's why she remains hugely popular with the Republican grass-roots base -- as I know from listening to talk radio. Callers coming fresh from her rallies are always heady with infectious enthusiasm.

.....prissy characterization of Palin's performance at the vice-presidential debate as merely "adequate." Hey, wake up -- Palin cleaned Biden's clock! By the end, Biden was sighing and itching to split.

Michale: "Ooooo I am gonna burn for that one!! :D"

http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2009/07/08/reader_letters/

Michale.....

Yeah, but why did the AIP escape the microscope during the campaign?

My guess is because it's a non-issue... Granted, the MSM loves to harp on non-issues, but this is one they actually got right. "Seceding from the Union" is a movement that transcends party lines.. From Texas to Vermont, many states and regions have such organizations like the AIP... As I said, it's an excuse to have a family BBQ and get drunk at the lake.

It's a mountain out of a molehill situation.. But if Palin does make a political comeback, you can bet that the hysterical Left will bring the AIP molehill/mountain up..

Again and again and again...

And, I think you'll agree, I NEVER underestimate charisma in politics. I have an enormous healthy respect for the power of charisma.

Conceded

Although in that line about Reagan, you misspelled the word "worst" as "B-E-S-T," maybe I should help you out and edit your comment. heh heh.

Now yer just being mean! :D

No one can deny Reagan's legacy. He is the President who ended the Cold War (Caps Intended). His place in the history books on the side of all that is good is assured...

Yeah, you're right — the power outlet comment was a cheap shot. But it was intended to be a joke anyway, so no harm no foul as far as I'm concerned….

I figured it was a nitpick, but I was going for the official CW Sherlock Holmes Award... :D

I am really glad to see some HuffPo commenters here.. I am always on the lookout for, as we termed in the military, "fresh meat"... :D

Michale.....

sproul -

Predicting the future 3 years out is a fool's game. I keep falling back on "a lot could happen" to sum this up. Game-changers happen all the time in politics, and by their very nature they are sometimes unforeseeable. We'd all do well to remember this basic truism.

Michale -

Yeah, but why did the AIP escape the microscope during the campaign? If you compare the coverage Michelle Obama got for one comment (the "proud of my country" thing) to the non-coverage of Palin and the AIP, the difference is stark.

And, I think you'll agree, I NEVER underestimate charisma in politics. I have an enormous healthy respect for the power of charisma.

Although in that line about Reagan, you misspelled the word "worst" as "B-E-S-T," maybe I should help you out and edit your comment. heh heh.

Yeah, you're right -- the power outlet comment was a cheap shot. But it was intended to be a joke anyway, so no harm no foul as far as I'm concerned....

Osborne Ink -

See above comment about respecting the power of charisma. The most interesting scenario, one that assumes so much that I didn't even include it in the article, is that Sarah Palin forms a third party. This may split the GOP between the Christian Right and the financial conservatives (who are libertarian on social issues). Fascinating, as Spock would say. But I still feel it's too early for such rampant speculation (although it is happening with a frenzy on the right side of the web right now).

OK, on to the HuffPost comments...

tcagle -

See above comments about a third party run for Palin.

Bigcha -

Heh heh. Your last line was funny! But I have to caution you -- remember Reagan's "there you go again" in his debate with Carter? OK, quick quiz -- what was the issue Reagan was slapping down, which Carter had just brought up? Do you remember? I sure didn't (until I did a story about what Reagan did for the AMA back in the early 60s, when he cut an album full of scare tactics against Medicare). Carter was right. He was making a valid point, which could easily have been fact-checked by the media. The media, instead, focused in on "there you go again." So smarts, even good debate smarts, doesn't always win out against charisma. Now, I'm not saying Obama wouldn't likely wipe the floor with Palin in a debate, but it's not always guaranteed, that's all.

MMJones -

Far be it for me to tell you what to subscribe to, but I have to at least give Runner's World credit for actually interviewing Palin instead of just going for the soundbite -- something that's pretty rare.

LeftRight wrote:

Dear God,

PLEASE let Sarah run and have to debate Obama!!!! I promise that I'll NEVER ask for anything else ever again!!!

Heh heh. Funniest comment yet! Just had to share that over here for CW.com readers...

:-)

justchill and deegee99 -

I was wondering if anyone would notice that Dead bit at the end. I saw a blog post on HuffPost with part of the title "Sarah Palin is a long-distance runner" or something similar, and it triggered the memory. "Long distance runner... long distance runner... now where have I heard that before?" Glad it was appreciated!

OK, that's it for this installment. Gotta write today's column.

Oh, one more thing, some good news for Dan Froomkin fans -- welcome to the Huffington Post, Dan!

-CW

Keep up the fine work.

The power outlet behind her has only one socket child-proofed. Seems like locking half the barn door.

If you look at the carpet area where Sarah is standing, it appears there was some sort of table or something sitting there. My guess is that it was a table with a lamp or clock or something that required a plug. They unplugged the item and moved the table to make room for the picture. Hence the socket without a cap.

Michale.....

Jeeeze louise..

Do you know how many states have "Independence" parties??? Dozens.

One of the most well-known independence movements is in one of the most liberal states in the country..

Get over it, people. The AIP is like the VFW. It's an excuse for people and families to get together and have BBQ weekends out at the lake. Nothing more..

As to an Obama/Palin match-up, it's not as far-fetched as people might think. Nor is Obama a shoo-in to beat Palin..

If the economy keeps on tanking and the Obama Administration continues to do absolutely nothing worthwhile to fix it, then there would be a real Presidential Race, even if the GOP puts up Rush Limbaugh as it's candidate...

The economy just might be Obama's Katrina..

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/07/06/obamas-katrina/

@Osborne Ink

Her brand is entirely built on personal charisma.

And Obama's wasn't??

Think about it. Obama is where he is today ONLY because of his personal charisma.. As CW mentions, Reagan was the long-shot but got to the White House based on his oratory skills. He went on to be the BEST American President since Washington. But Washington had a harder job.

Don't underestimate personal charisma or star quality. Both Hillary and McCain did and that's why they are where they are and Obama is in the White House.

Michale.....

Her brand is entirely built on personal charisma. She comes from the charismatic branch of right-wing Christianist politics and is entirely a creature of the fringe movement. I expect her to show up at tea parties and draw large crowds of bitter white people with nasty signs.

I've been pointing out the Alaska Independence Party stuff since mere days after McCain announced her as running mate. From back then:

"What exactly is Sarah Palin's relationship to the Alaska Independence Party — a political party that wants Alaska to secede from the union, and who claims Sarah Palin as one of their own? Is Sarah Palin's motto 'Alaska First' (as the A.I.P. has on their website), or is it John McCain's 'country first'?"

I hadn't noticed that the mainstream media had (finally -- little late, guys) picked up on this. Got a link to a recent story?

-CW

pdxsean -

I too noticed the harsh lighting, and wondered why a backlight wasn't directed to that very white wall behind her, to eliminate the shadows. And I too thought a polarizing filter would have helped, although the window reflections aren't as bad as the shadows. But your theory that the photographer was pushed around by Palin's "I want it MY way" attitude is an interesting one. Especially the shoes -- that's such a rookie mistake.

Nixon uttered his famous line after he had lost the presidential race to JFK and then lost a governor's race in California in '62. I had thought it was the Checkers speech, but that was much earlier... live and learn.

PrincipaChamp -

Ohh, you betcha!

Heh heh.

BMS -

Yeah, that line flitted through my head, too, but I got it wrong (look up top on the HuffPost article, "draped in a flag" is one of the keywords I assigned...). I think you're right, though, I think "wrapped" is correct.

Doofus -

Your last paragraph may be true, but remember, in 1992 all the Democrats were terrified of GHW Bush (his approval ratings were sky-high after the Gulf War) and so all the "big names" sat it out. And Clinton waltzed right in to victory as a result. I'm not saying that's what will happen with Palin, but I'm not saying that it won't happen, either.

Stan and oldgeek1-

Yeah, time will tell if she's just cashing in (or "selling out," take your pick) or if she really is (as Bill Kristol keeps saying) "crazy like a fox."

Elizabeth -

Thanks for the kind words! I was impressed at the length and (relative) depth of the RW article, so I thought I'd go to Palin's own words and see if I could read between the lines. I do think a lot of people in the media truly do exhibit an "elitist" attitude towards Palin, as they do with just about any politician who talks with an accent (Democrat or Republican). Palin fans call this "hate" of Palin, but it's really not -- it's more properly labelled "disdain" or even "ridicule." I don't agree with much that comes out of Palin's mouth, but I give her the benefit of the doubt that I give any politician, and try to figure out what she is really trying to say. That's really where this article came from.

To all -

Thanks for commenting! I should be back up and running with comments over at HuffPost in the next week or so, sorry about the inconvenience....

-CW

There will not be a better piece written about Sarah Palin and her political future. It’s the only one I’ll read and it was a pleasure.

As for the pictures from the Runner's World magazine interview...number one, you are extremely observant, Chris and, number two...those pictures are fabulous and I am officially jealous...I mean...ahem...determined...to get back into my own exercise regime!

Only time will tell.
...Stan