The Palin Rebound?
Chris Cillizza reports:
After enduring months of derision within Republican circles for her role as the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee and her uneven performance as a national figure this year, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is experiencing something of a rebound among the D.C. chattering class in the 48 hours since the release of a very tough profile on her in Vanity Fair magazine.
In the wake of that piece -- a 9,800 word opus penned by Todd Purdum -- a number of operatives who worked closely with Palin during the 2008 campaign have reached out to the Fix to defend the governor.
"She's a fine person, with unique and unteachable political skills," said Mark Salter, a senior adviser to Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) presidential bid who was deeply involved with the Palin pick. "I'm sure she has a future if she wants one."
Palin got a vote of confidence from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele as well on Wednesday during an appearance on Fox & Friends.
"Sarah Palin will be a leader in this party," said Steele during an appearance Wednesday on "Morning Joe." "She has the ability to galvanize the base, and even folks outside the base. "And I think all the hindsight second guessing and back looking does nothing."
[...]
Fred Malek, who served as a national finance committee chair for McCain's presidential bid, said that he recently hosted a foreign policy lunch at Palin's request in which she mixed with the likes of former secretary of defense Frank Carlucci and former deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott.
"She has been vastly underestimated as a result of one or two interviews," said Malek of Palin. "I have spent a lot of time around her and can state unequivocally she is smart, perceptive, curious, and absolutely on top of issues like energy which are pivotal to her role as Alaska's Governor. "
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She always rebounds. To quote Scripture I'm sure she believes in:
"No weapon formed against me shall prosper."
wErD. =)
It would have been nice if the FNC Special Report Panel knew about this before yesterday's discussion.
It would have been more informative for sure.
This woman has an amazing ability for someone in politics...she can keep her mouth shut!!! Who knew she had "policy" meetings with Carlucci and Talbott? I love how she does things in her own way in her own time. Political instincts perfected!!!
Andrea Tantaros was on America's Newsroom with Megyn Kelly and tweeted that she told Megyn she thought it was future Romney staffers trying to kneecap Palin early!
latinChic,
Niiiiiiice!
Brian72,
They don't call them the beltway boys for nothing.
I love Krauthammer, but he's an elitist to the core.
I could feel the tide starting to turn in Gov. Palin's direction a couple of weeks ago. Having withstood the media's sharpest (and most crooked) slings and arrows for ten months, she is now tephlon. All she has to do is bring the bacon home.
OK, at least we've gone from "disastrous performance" to "uneven performance"
But, Chris Cizilla, "uneven performance"??? Really???
Considering the handicap Team McCain and Schmidt were hindering Palin with, her performance was (and remains) superb!
She is likely the most gifted national personality and politician on the scene today.
(Marco Rubio from Florida comes in a close second.)
I just finished reading the article and the comparison to Bill Clinton's ordeal is ridiculous. Bill Clinton deserved what he got as he did something wrong.
Americuda,
I said in an earlier thread that the pundits are a lagging indicator on Palin's image.
They are so focused on the daily news grind in the Beltway that she's a side story to them, until she pops up in the DC news.
When the PR push gets going harder, and she does the policy things that they say she has not done, most of the FOX pundits, including Krauthammer I believe, will come around to where we have been for a while.
They have not been following her as closely as we have.
SP has been on the rebound since her Evansville pro-life speech on April 17th and climaxed with the Letterman apology and the pipeline news 2-3 weeks ago.
Like most media pundits Cillizza's assessment has lagged behind the reality of the times, and that includes the recent PPP polls and PEW polls that show that Sarah is favored by 72% of Republicans.
Reflect on that number for a minute. 7 in 10 Republicans currently favor Sarah Palin. It may be higher than that now with the Sanford debacle.
Sarah is definitely 'in the ascendancy'.
And those "one or two interviews" made Palin look not so hot BECAUSE PALIN WAS WRONGFULLY MADE (by McCain Campaign and Schmidt) to do pre-taped, allowing for editing of, interviews instead of doing live interviews only (which, as avary political consultant should know, is A MUST for any GOP candidate) unless, that is, a RINO or GOP-LOSER which the MSM wants.
Let's face the facts, folks. There are many who like Sarah in a personal way, but are skeptical about her potential as a serious candidate. It is her challenge to win them over, and I think she can.
These assumptions about her can be overcome with reasonable, open minded people.
The mad libs are a lost cause, and will likely end up helping Sarah more than hurting her. They will get more over the top and crazy the better she does, and most people will stop giving these kinds of things any credibility.
I think that process began with the NY trip and Letterman smackdown, where she had Norah O'Donnell and Joy Behar agreeing with her.
The next step is the policy wonks.
techno,
I don't think she has peaked yet.
This train is just getting rolling, and it will hit DC before long.
Ted:
Never has one subpar performance (Couric) in the history of sports or politics has been affirmed so deliberately to label or brand a person for life.
That enough American drones really buy into this concept really tells us not so much about the perpetrators of such disinformation but more about the recipients.
And I bet these same people after their favorite superstar QB throws 4 interceptions in a game are more than willing to cut the player some slack and admit the QB had an 'off day'.
Brian72:
Sarah needs to get her DUCKS IN A ROW, do her HOMEWORK, take a 'it is what it is' approach to politics, and establish a LEADERSHIP FOCUS that generates increased credibility and gravitas.
There is a piece on the Vanity Fair article in the London Times this moorning. I posted a reply and was told that they could not guarantee publication because of the hugh volume.
techno,
It seems to me that is what she has been doing, very quietly.
A plan is coming together, and we will see the rest of it play out this summer and fall.
Have faith!
I have been thinking about this rebound, as well as the theory floated here that the recent ramp up in attacks could be from folks who might be privy to numbers showing her favorability over 50%. Well, in doing research of my own, I pulled up this recent Pew poll: http://people-press.org/report/524/republican-favorability. I shows Palin at +1 among all voters. Also interesting is that her greatest gain from last year is among democrats and independents!!
Finally, note that this poll was taken from June 10-14, before she the Letterman apology and announcement of the pipeline deal, and all of the other favorable news we have seen since.
LadySam hit the nail on the head.
Sarah can keep a secret. Trust me she has not been sitting up in AK all winter counting snowflakes...
I bet there are many eyebrow raising activites and conversations that Palin has been doing. She is just quietly doing them.
Palin, imo, has been laying ground work behind the scenes. PERFECTLY PLAYED SARAH.
The MSM has been busy recycling dirt and she has used that opprotunity to fill in gaps in her resume such as this foreign policy meeting. And they have no clue she has been doing this. I betcha she has had some interesting names pop up on her cell phone bill too. (Perhaps some of these people who have been keeping their mouth shut would be good to use in the campaign.)
Palin will win those people quickly who like her but are unsure of her ability to be POTUS.
Mark my words. The first debate Palin has in the primaries will blow everyone away. She is a great debator, and she will quickly show how smart and well versed she is on key issues. She will also show how Couric and Gibson edited her to make her look dumb.
I cannot wait for her first debate. It will rattle people worse than the RNC speech. They will be thinking "Oh, crap. This lady is gonna win the nomination.... she is the real deal and she knows enough now to NOT do taped interviews so we can't make her look dumb. Oh, crap."
What I find interesting is that the more Obama trashes the country with his ridiculous plans, policies and ideas, the more some of these so-called journalists hassle Gov. Palin...
LT:
Rusty of C4P told us all there are no secrets in Washington.
Nothing would surprise me about Sarah's numbers today and it would not surprise me one bit that her rise in the polls was not caused by her pro-life speech in Evansville, her appearance in Auburn or the pipeline deal but because she stared down Letterman and forced him to apologize and thus reignited the culture wars ( a sure winner among evangelicals) and bled off some of Obama's feminist supporters by defending young women.
techno:
I know you mean well but really, who are you to give advice to Governor Palin? Get her ducks in a row?? Do her homework?? Just exactly what ducks and rows are you referring to? And what homework should she being doing in your opinion? I find it very obnoxious and pretentious when someone spouts a line like "hold her head down and study up". Enough already. Governor Palin doesn't need advice from us on how to manage her career. She is doing just fine. She's come this far without such silly suggestions. She sure as hell doesn't need them now. Why don't we just trust that she knows what she's doing and let her do it? Why do we constantly fall into this elitist trap of trying to give the Governor of Alaska political advice? If she wants advice on hip or knee replacements I'm there. Otherwise, I'll trust her judgement and keep my political advice to myself.
TD: Techno's an old hand here, few are more pro-Palin than he is. It's okay. He's carefully defined "homework" in the past, hence the all caps. Check it out.
In other news:
http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2009/07/01/what-we-can-learn-from-the-vanity-fair-hit-piece-on-sarah-palin/
Ok, so I quotes Margaret Thatcher in the open thread already, but I'm going to do it again. It's amazing how many of Thatcher's quotes could apply to the governor. The first one is especially applicable to the trash of the past few days (or past 10 months):
"I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left."
"If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing."
"This lady is not for turning. "
"You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it."
"Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country. "
"I've got a woman's ability to stick to a job and get on with it when everyone else walks off and leaves it. "
"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman."
"Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides."
and in perhaps to be quoted 2012....
"I just owe almost everything to my father and it's passionately interesting for me that the things that I learned in a small town, in a very modest home, are just the things that I believe have won the election. "
Ok, I think I'm done with the Thatcher quotes for today, but they are just so good!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/01/politics/main5128672.shtml
I think some of McCain's staff are now own Obama's payroll.
Tiny Dancer:
With all due respect, you are taking it the same way the media is dishing it.... as an issue ONLY applicable to Sarah Palin.
Here is the blunt truth... ALL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES need to study up. That's part of the process of running for President. The ONLY candidate who is "smart enough" to run for President without preparation is an incumbent President or VP, imo.
YES, the media says "study up" as a put down, and you are taking it as a put down. But the TRUTH is she needs to prepare, just like Mittens and every other potential candidate. Spending 6 months with policy advisers to create an in depth "mental rolodex of facts and policy points" is part of the game for everyone.
Thank God for Sarah Palin, in the Name of Jesus.
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its remotest parts
And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and not rejected you.
‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
“Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;
Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
“You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,
Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.
“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’
Isaiah 41:9-13
You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 4:3
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
Genesis 50:20
"He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.
1 Samuel 2:9
Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication; And let them say continually, "The LORD be magnified, Who delights in the prosperity of His servant. And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness And Your praise all day long.
Psalm 35:27-28
Prayer Warriors for Sarah Palin
Tiny Dancer:
I am no better or worse than you or Rusty or TommyReport or any other reader or poster at C4P.
This is a forum. It's like a Safeway. If you like green apples you take them; if you don't like bananas you leave them.
The same with the various ideas presented here.
If you criticize me for anything it is that I believe Obama and his radical socialist agenda is evil and insidious, that I am not in the least bit charitable to the Messiah or the Far Left, that the radical Left must be destroyed and Obama must be taken down in 2012.
You may not perceive the state of American malaise the way I see it but you cannot criticize me for not wanting Sarah to be placed in the best possbile position to succeed.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/01/politics/main5128672.shtml
It's soo partisan but it gives me some insight into how she thinks. I think it's more about just telling the truth in matters and putting a cork in things before they explode into anything unnecessary and petty. You definitely see two different ways of politically handling a situation.
Also wouldn't be surprised to see after the 2010 elections, if the Republicans get the seats, Palin's announcement.
As I have said before I always pray for Gov. Palin and that when I go on C4P in the morning that there would be a Post that was good for the governor and today it happened...
I was talking to someone yesterday and told him that the blogs were all for Mitt he said "no way that Palin was the only one who could bring us back to a great America" this an older man in a wheel chair...you want to talk about grassroots...
OT
I also pray that RAM is okay...
Brian Davidson:
My point is this: None of us are in any position to give Governor Palin political advice and I find it very silly to suggest otherwise. She is obviously very much on top of her responsibilites and is apparently doing things behind the scenes we are not privy to. Who am I or who are you to tell the Governor she needs to do this or she needs to do that? And if you want to include Mitt Romeny in that as well, I would feel exactly the same way. I just think it's silly and counterproductive to second guess or disect her every move. Let her do what she does best and let's support her for who she is--not who we think she should be. Just my two cents...
techno:
I don't doubt your desire to see Sarah Palin succeed. I have read many of your posts. I know you support her. My point was, playing armchair quarterback is not helping her. She doesn't need advice from us. And I get sick and tired of those on our side who keep falling into this trap of saying she needs to study or do her homework. Again, she is obviously doing many things we are not aware of. I don't mean to imply you should not speak your mind but I just find it pretentious that we would assume she needs our advice. That's all I meant.
Tiny Dancer: I appreciate what you are saying. And yes, we are certainly not privy to what is really going on. My only point was that EVERY Presidential Candidate has to "cram" for several months before they announce their candidacy. That is a fact, and has absolutely nothing to do with Gov. Palin or anyone else. She knows this, and will probably take care of this behind the scenes anyway.
Wowweee!!
Rush Limbaugh just mentioned at the start of his show McCain Campaign (Schmidt) trashing Sarah Palin for the Vanity Fair piece!!!
Brian Davidson/Tiny Dancer:
If there is one prevailing fault that people that know something, including myself do, is they ASSUME everybody knows what they know.
For most of my life I have fought this tendency. Thus often what I write about is known by political junkies but I do not assume that everybody on C4P is one. And if the information I provide can provide ammunition or ample evidence for that person to either convert him/her to Sarah' side or to convert his/her friends or family over to supporting Sarah then my mission has been fulfilled.
And of course if I can uplift or encourage C4P readers in times where Sarah's fortunes have ebbed then I hope that I have accomplished this as well.
Sarah is undoubtedly, she knows very well her challenges, doing and studying and refining her immense talents, all the while Governing, and we should be ever so mindful not to be adding to the second guessing with incessant critiquing of her every move and what she needs to be doing to stay, in our opinion of things, relevant.
I say this not in any way, to diminish the committed enthusiasm and well intent of us all, but only to say, and I find myself at times guilty, if we are not careful we become much like what we despise from the nay sayers.
The airways and print media abound with either three things, ...1) pure hatred towards her, ...2) negative critique of her supposed lack of propriety or, ...3) in the best case, compliments, but even they seem to always include BIG IFS! ... if she will do this or if she will do that!
I find myself just wanting to give her, absolutely ever benefit of the doubt, internally Sarah is in charge of her brand, as only she knows best and is seeking assistance appropriate with her time table of future ambitions.
Im loving the ups and even the so called downs, she commands such attention for many reason and that's what's great fun, an experience of a lifetime!
Tiny Dancer,
Just read you after my post, Im with you on this.
Somebody please tape Rush. I've got to go into a long meeting and will miss it :(
Techno 11:49 AM,
Exactly.
Tiny Dancer: Chill
This is what political internet-junkies do -- examine daily events and anaylize them to death. We all want to help Sarah and give her advice. She doesn't have to take it. I wouldn't be an avid reader of C4P if it only existed to be cheerleaders for the Gov.
http://www.thefoxnation.com/politics/2009/07/02/exclusive-palin-e-mails-show-infighting-staff
call to action
Isn't it interesting that the Evansville dinner and those thousands of people who rally to see her don't even register in Cilizza's brain but a few people from the rolodex start yapping positively, he thinks her stock has risen!
BettyJoBialowski:
You chill. No where did I say we just need to be cheerleaders for the Gov. What I said is we need to quit thinking we know better than she about what she is doing. Governor Palin has been at this a long time and has done some pretty amazing things in her 45 years. Telling her to "study up" or "do her homework" is ridiculous. It's also condescending. Regardless of whether or not you are a political junkie, it's presumptious of you or me or anyone else here to think we know what's best for Sarah Palin's political career. She got this far without most of us. I'm sure she will be just fine and will do what she thinks is best for her and her country. But by all means if you want to tell her which books to read or which philosphers to quote, then have at it. I'd rather spread the word about all she has accomplished and defend her against the continued misconceptions and smears.
Wise,
The fact that he wrote ANYTHING even vaguely positive about her is encouraging. Let's not look a gift-horse in the mouth here.
Evansville was the best speech by an American politician ever given on the most difficult issue of abortion. Though I never thought Sarah Palin was ever down, she wasn't the guy running for President, that marked some sort of a turn around. I cannot explain it. Maybe it meant as much to her as it did to those who listened to it.
It's because that's a speech unlike any that's been given on the topic; most speak platitudes
about this very contentioussubject.
She spoke from the heart, laying bare all her emotion, even her moment of doubt, one notices that Purdum tries to deal with this
and utterly fails in his account. She walked in there, her atty general had been shot down, her daughter's fiance had been caterwauling on the tabloid circuit, they hade been systematically tried to break her spirit and her finances,and she just let loose. you could hear a pin drop through out the speech.
RINO-hunter, true. I was just wondering on how insular these people are.
narciso:
Great take. I hope you don't mind if I quote from it from time to time.
I actually found this site surfing for a link to the speech. Naturally, the site had if covered with the CNN link.
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