Clinton vs. Palin media treatment

Hillary Clinton:



Oh, hurray! Isn't that wonderful?  Remeber Sarah Palin was evil for talking about Political targets?


Double. Standards. On. The. Left.

Romney was right, Palin was right even earlier

If you are one of those Democrats who spent 2008 and 2009 being derisive of Sarah Palin as a dumb bumpkin, just remember, she saw the consequences of Obama's inaction on the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008.  She saw what that sort of vacillation and non-action would embolden Putin.

Obama, your genius president, did not.

D.C. Mayor - Politics at its Worst

In light of the D.C. shootings yesterday, trust a liberal to get out in front of this with a political agenda, that is as incorrect as it is revolting in this time of loss.  Nevertheless, D.C. mayor Vincent Gray blames the shootings on, believe it or not, the sequester.

Via The Washington Times;

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray said he wondered if budget cuts had something to do with a gunman getting onto the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, killing 12 before being killed himself.

“As I look at, for example, sequestration, which is about saving money in the federal government being spent, have we somehow skimped on what would be available for projects like this and then we put people at risk,” Mr. Gray said on CNN’s “New Day” on Tuesday morning.

The shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords immediately had liberals running to Tea Party blame, which turned out to be incorrect as well as targeting Sarah Palin because she wanted conservatives to 'target' districts for Republican wins.  Again, grossly inaccurate and politically motivated.  Oh, and morally wrong in addition to factually wrong.

 

Liberals it seems, can't let a tragedy go to waste.  Most conservatives won't blame this on say violent video games or other conservative concerns the way liberals jump to conclusions.  We tend to realize that this is the act of a sick mind (or minds).

 

But Liberals are all to eager to cast blame in conservative directions because they know they won't generally be called out on their vapid accusations by a tacitly complicit media.  There's no cost to throwing out unfounded accusations for them so they feel emboldened to spout ridiculousness.  That's not changing any time soon, which is unfortunate because it is politics at its worst.

Palin by request

A reader sent me a note asking about what Sarah Palin was up to these days.  While I haven't been paying attention much, since she has sorta disappeared, I do have an update.  Here's an update - from the Family Faith Coalition making a speech today.

For the guy who asked, you're welcome. (Hat tip Common Cents)

Palin at CPAC 2013. Full speech

I'm not as enamored of Palin as I used to be, or others, but this is still a speech with some very worthwhile moments and Palin still has some cache.  Her opportunity for the presidency may have passed, but she still makes sense and can make points effectively -  at times, very effectively.

Here's her speech from yesterday.

Is Palin a good idea or bad news?

It's seemingly clear that Sarah Palin is not(?) going to be speaking at the GOP convention this year.  That if true, is a mistake.

Via GretaWire:

“…Everything I said at the 2008 convention about then-candidate Obama still stands today, and in fact the predictions made about the very unqualified and inexperienced Community Organizer’s plans to “fundamentally transform” our country are unfortunately coming true. This year is a good opportunity for other voices to speak at the convention and I’m excited to hear them. As I’ve repeatedly said, I support Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in their efforts to replace President Obama at the ballot box, and I intend to focus on grassroots efforts to rally Independents and the GOP base to elect Senate and House members so a wise Congress is ready to work with our new President to get our country back on the right path. This is imperative. As President Clinton said in 2008 while candidate Obama and lapdogs in the media were thrashing his wife’s record and reputation, this is “…the biggest fairy tale.” For the sake of America’s solvency and sovereignty we must close this nonsensical book in November…”

(emphasis added)

The irony that everything she said at the 2008 convention still holds true, is all the more reason to have her speak at the 2012 convention. In fact, it'd make a great headline-grabbing stunt. Have her words from 2008 played back on the video screen while she stands at the podium in front of it.

When those comments are done, have her speak and remind people that those words were so right. Maybe a simple "Ditto." or "What she said." followed by a pause as if there were nothing to add would be poignant enough to make the point crystal clear.

It would certainly get media attention. And I guarantee you it would be negative attention. But that would reinforce the idea that the media got it wrong last time, and they are still getting it wrong now. What an opening.

Further, Palin is not toxic.  She is still a charismatic messenger, and now she's unencumbered by the shackles of being number 2 on the ticket.  If the media skewers her and gets away with it, so what?  It doesn't damage the ticket, and that truly frees her up to be a powerful, highly visible attack dog (pardon the term).

Palin at the convention?  It should be a no-brainer.

Why I agree with Bill Maher

When blowhards suck.

I never thought I'd see the day I could look at Bill Maher and say "yeah, he got that one right". He called the 9/11 terrorists brave. That's just one of his many outrageous statements. But this time he has happened to reach the right conclusion, albeit by an unlikely path.

Bill Maher is calling on America to stop the phony outrage. Now, it didn't bother him when he was using truly foul language to tar Sarah Palin. He has claimed edgy is his thing, unlike Limbaugh.

But once the left's Alinsky tactics were turned on him byt the right, suddenly it became every man for himself. He couldn't say the right should stop it's phony outrage but it's okay for the left to do so. So Maher threw his lefty pals en masse under the bus to protect his own skin.

Everyone should stop the phony outrage he says. So he can continue to be edgy without consequence. The price - people will have to let people say unpleasant things. That's the price of the valuable First Amendment. I agree.

The Maher conclusion only came after he couldn't have it both ways any longer. So be it and kudos to the right for using a smart tactic - isolate and demonize Maher - to achieve this end.

But let's face it Maher has left himself an out. He said only phony outrage should stop. Who decides what is phony? I suspect Maher will have his own barometer as to what qualifies. In other words, wait a few months and it will be liberal business as usual.

US apologize for Koran burning. Muslim response? Kill.

Briefly, the United States accidentally burned some Korans. The military apologized. President Obama, predictably, apologized. Then this:

Two American troops were gunned down by a man wearing an Afghan uniform in eastern Afghanistan Thursday, a U.S. official said Thursday.

Mohammad Hassan, a local Afghan leader in Nangarhar province, says the shooting occurred outside an American base in the province during a riot against the Koran burnings. He says the gunman was an Afghan soldier.

The shooting is the latest in a rising number of attacks on NATO troops by Afghan police and soldiers or militants dressed in their uniforms.

The obvious question: When is Afghanistan going to apologize for the killing of those Americans?  They won't.  It turns out I wasn't the only one asking this question.  Sarah Palin replied with the obvious question and Newt Gingrich adds the obvious conclusion:

“It is an outrage that President Obama is the one apologizing to Afghan President Karzai on the same day two American troops were murdered and four others injured by an Afghan soldier. It is Hamid Karzai who owes the American people an apology, not the other way around.” 

Gingrich added, “This destructive double standard whereby the United States and its democratic allies refuse to hold accountable leaders who tolerate systematic violence and oppression in their borders must come to an end.”

 BAM!

No word from Mitt Romney.

Speaking of CPAC - Sarah Palin

Since I couldn't attend CPAC this year, I'm posting some of the highlight speeches for myself as much as for readers who could not attend. Here's Sarah Palin's speech.

More to come.

Sarah Palin gets it right on Romney

Sarah Palin can see it coming.  It's something I've been pointing out for some time - the mainstream media and Democrats are itching for a battle against Mitt Romney.  Why?  He's very, very beatable.  Keep that in mind when you go vote in New Hampshire and other states.

Via Human Events;

Palin said the mainstream media would take a hands-off approach to Romney “in order to bolster Romney’s chances” to “finally face Obama.”

According to Palin, the mainstream media and Obama would then portray Romney as someone who is out of touch with regular Americans in the general election.

“They are already gearing up to portray him, accurately or inaccurately … as being out of touch with the working class,” Palin said, nothing that Romney’s wealth and perfect family may make it easy to paint him as someone “being a bit out of touch from working and middle class Americans and from the challenges we all face.”

Palin continued: “My opinion is that I can see what’s coming ... the media will try to bolster Romney so they can tear him down, and that is quite unfortunate.”

It IS pretty easy to see coming, which is why I've argued that a longer primary doesn't allow them to prepare for just one candidate, but rather have to spread out their efforts over a number of possible opponents.  The more candidates, the longer they go, the more time and treasure they will waste on eventual non-nominees,

Part 2a - GOP primaries – The Wildcards

Matrix-like: There is no spoon.

NOTE: This is a continuation from Part 1.

There are three big wild cards in the GOP presidential nomination race, and one minor wild card. The three big wild cards include two personalities not in the race – Donald Trump, and Sarah Palin. The in-the-race wild card is Ron Paul and the minor wild card, also in the race, is Rick Santorum. 

Each of those four individuals has some concrete or at least a potential part to play in this election cycle. Each one has the potential to make a significant difference or to be a non-factor depending on what they decide to do. A look at what they bring to the process is in order.

Romney Zombies on the loose

I just finished a fantastic steak dinner at Toronto's Harbour 60, and decided there was no better time to start thinking about zombie metaphors and how zombies can be related to the current political situation in America.  Of course - doesn't the thought process follow? Steaks, zombies eating brains.  Well, it made sense to me at least.  Now, I've talked about zombie democrats before. Collectivism is suited perfectly to zombie metaphors and Democrats have shifted pretty far into that territory.  But that's sort of stale now.  There's some zombification happening in the GOP primaries as well.

Palin explains OWS hypocrisy

Yesterday I caught a little bit of flack for saying Sarah Palin is still not running for president (in 2012). I think the overall point may have been missed by some people.  I think Palin would make a great president but I have two problems with 2012 for her.  (1) She missed her window of opportunity and (2) if she gets a political executive role (e.g. a governorship) she's better positioned for the next time around be that 2016 or 2020.

That doesn't mean I don't like her or wouldn't support her bid.  I would, but only under the right circumstances.  Nevertheless, to counterweight the negative impression some had, let me provide a pro-Palin note today.   She is so bang-on correct in this AP piece, it deserves recognition;

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Sarah Palin told Republican donors Thursday that Occupy Wall Street protesters want the same thing as the "fat cats" they're upset with — a government bailout.

Palin criticized the protesters as believing they're entitled to other people's productivity and money and said they've drawn the wrong conclusions. Instead, the former Alaska governor said people should look to the tea party.

"They say 'Wall Street fat cats got a bailout so now I want one too.' And the correct answer is no one is entitled to a bailout," Palin told the crowd of about 1,000 at the Republican Party of Florida dinner. "The American dream, our foundation, is about work ethic and empowerment, not entitlement."

 You can't be more correct than that.

Palin: Still Not Running

Nope.

Allahpundit at Hot Air has a piece today about the faint hope speculation that Palin might still be reconsidering a run for President.  The logic behind the late bid is that it is possible, not plausible.  Read the piece here for the details on why there is a glimmer of hope for Palinistas.

But the reality of the situation suggests otherwise.  It's too late.  The game plan Allahpundit maps out in fun, is just that - in fun.  There's no way to make that scenario work.  It's too late for Palin to run in 2012.*

If she wishes to remain relevant, she's going to have to run for office somewhere as a step on the road to political recovery.  She stretched out her indecision too long to come back with a 'no'.  If she wants to contend in 2016 or 2020, some Senate, Congressional or more gubernatorial resume building is required.  It serves three purposes.  

Firstly, it adds to her resume, which many regard as too thin.  While it's not as thin as Barack Obama's was, no one needs another rookie president.  Fair or not, Palin needs at least four years of profile political experience.  That means not in Alaska, either in Washington in Congress or the Senate or as a governor in another state.  Executive experience is preferable.  Another option might be as Energy Secretary, although that could be limiting unless wildly successful.  Following Steven Chu bodes well for a superior performance - there'd be no Solyndras under Palin.  However the bureaucratic nature of a federal department 

Secondly it serves to give her time to rehabilitate her image.  While Democrats loath her and will continue to do so, she needs to win over Independents and Republicans who have accidentally swallowed the MSM Kool Aid and believe she's an airhead. The damage repair to her perceived persona could take years.  The time would serve her well in that capacity.  

Thirdly, somewhat related to the second point,  it provides her some more political seasoning and helps with damage control for her jilted followers.  She has to prove she wants to be in the fight.  After leaving Alaska prematurely, and not running in 2012, the image may be forming that she doesn't want to run for anything anymore.  If she doesn't, that's fine, but if she ever does, she's got to get back on that political horse now or she will be seen as not at all interested.  Waiting two years to start her comeback will make it far more difficult to achieve.

She may not be running now, but she could conceivably start her comeback now.  Ronald Reagan didn't win in 1976 and it only made him stronger.  The potential for Palin is still there for the future, if she starts doing the legwork now.

*there is always the convention option.  But I don't see that as a likely scenario either.

Christie endorses Romney - no biggie.

The not-running-for-GOP-nomination New Jersey governor Chris Christie has endorsed the not not-Romney candidate Mitt Romney for president.  I'm not sure that's a game changer.  Much of the support for Christie (and hence the weight of his endorsement - no pun intended) is a mile wide and an inch deep (certainly no pun intended).  The point is, Christie, perceived as a true conservative but not so much by those who know him more intimately, has endorsed the GOPs most likely RINO candidate.

Romney has it sewn up (or not)

Establishment Romney sheep?  Click to see.

Kristin Powers writing in The Daily Beast argues that the domino effect caused by Florida moving its primary up to January helps Mitt Romney's chances of winning the GOP primary. She sees it as being all about money.  Florida is big, expensive and early and Romney has cash.  Advantage Romney.  I don't see it that way.  Too bad I didn't write about the various impacts of the moves before she did.  Oh wait, I did.  

By the way, Romney sheep are very real.  Luckily they aren't voting in the primaries.

Despite my difference with Powers on the effects of the Florida move, her argument makes some sense.  Although I don't think it's that cut and dried,  there is some merit to the cost argument.  But that's only one facet of the race.

Palin is NOT running. Now what?

Word is Palin's out.  It's not a big surprise, although going beyond her own deadline and then announcing on Mark Levin's show I find curious.  Going beyond her self-imposed deadline makes me think she was really considering it up to the last minute.  As for Mark Levin's show - why not Fox, why not on Rush Limbaugh's show.  Why not before the evening news cycle?  It's like a back door exit. Not running may not have helped her credibility but to minimize that, she could have gone out Christie style - being forthright, upfront and facing the music.

Um, where's Palin?

Going somewhere?

No announcement was made by Palin on her decision to run/not run.  It was supposed to have happen in September.  That was her own deadline. Check your calendars, no announcement.  So what happened?  Is Sarah running or not.  Having firmly been in the camp of IS for the last several months, I'm about ready to flip to NOT.  Don't get me wrong, I think Palin would make a good candidate, I just think she's not going to run, and I think that's the case because events changed to make things seem less favorable for her.

In which I cut Obama some slack

It's not race-related, it's a family allegory.

Obama is guilty of a lot of things - mismanaging or ignoring the economy, eroding freedom, forcing an unpopular health care mandate, running up debt, numerous scandals that were buried by the media,  the oceans stopping their rise (what? I thought more oceans would be a good thing), the list goes on and on.  That would be a good place to end this post, but alas, I found something on which I have to cut the president some slack.

Improbable Political Thriller

If I were writing a political drama something I'd consider writing about a political primary to keep it interesting would be to have a continuing series of headline grabbers one after the other that were worth a chapter and then fizzled out one by one.

Chapter 1: Mike Huckabee declines to run.

Chapter 2: Romney becomes the de facto poll leader of the GOP field. 

Chapter 3: Donald Trump decides he's a Republican, surges in the polls and runs doesn't run. 

Chapter 4: Michele Bachmann wins the Iowa straw poll.

Chapter 5: Rick Perry enters and Bachmann fades away.

Chapter 6: Perry falters in a few debates and looks like he's fading.

Chapter 7: Herman Cain surges.

Chapter 8: Chris Christie thinks about jumping in after flatly stating he's not running.

Chapter 9: Chris Christie surges and fades like Perry.

Chapter 10: Sarah Palin makes her decision to run. 

Chapter 11: Here's where I get stuck - I can't think of a logical ending.

Now that seems like a pretty improbable political thriller.  Implausible even.  Except that's what seems to have happened up to about Chapter 8.  It's been an improbably season but even the prologue is absurd.  Obama started with massive approval and blew it horrifically, even with a fawning press.

Politics is stranger than fiction.