Rogue to Redemption: Palin endorsement brings intra-party battle to fore
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: There’s nothing quite like putting lipstick on an identity crisis. Sarah Palin declared more than her independence from the GOP establishment with her endorsement of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman Thursday night. (That didn’t need much more formality, anyway.) Palin also escalated the war inside the Republican Party — ratcheting up the battle that’s been brewing (like so much tea) virtually since President Obama’s inauguration. And if there’s a Republican who commands a bigger army at this moment in American politics, name her or him. “Political parties must stand for something,” Palin wrote on her Facebook page — naturally. “Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.” Palin’s decision to take sides, and to take the particular side of a conservative locked in a long-shot battle for ideological purity, crystallizes the debate about the future of the GOP. It ensures that a race for an open House seat in upstate New York is going to be viewed through a prism of tea parties, Glenn Beck, and ideological purity. Two of the highest-profile races on the ballot Nov. 3 feature right-leaning third-party candidates — vessels for the anger that’s been percolating all year. And it all could begin to shape the early 2012 field, with would-be candidates who’d rather sit this battle out under pressure to declare sides. So this is what going rogue is all about — and it’s going to be interesting. “Her action increased the race’s profile as a national test between the GOP establishment and the conservative base,” the Washington Times’ Amanda Carpenter writes. “The New York race is a microcosm of the dilemma faced by parties out of power: How much purity should you insist on from your members?”ABC’s Teddy Davis reports. “The Republican that Palin has passed over supports abortion rights, same-sex marriage and legislation that would make union organizing easier. In backing the Conservative Party candidate, Palin finds herself in the company of many TEA party activists, plus former House Republican Leader Dick Armey of Texas.” Game on: “Tea party activists from across the nation are rallying around the House special election in upstate New York, viewing it as the first electoral test of the nascent conservative movement’s political muscle,” Politico’s Alex Isenstadt reports. In the other corner… Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: “The choice in New York is a practical one,” Gingrich writes in endorsing Republican Dede Scozzafava. “My number one interest in the 2009 elections is to build a Republican majority. If your interest is taking power back from the Left, and your interest is winning the necessary elections, then there are times when you have to put together a coalition that has disagreement within it.” Can Democrats pick up the GOP’s pieces? From a memo going out to Democratic House members Friday, from DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen: “This race presents a unique opportunity for Democrats in a conservative-leaning Republican open seat. NY-23 has not been represented by a Democrat in nearly 120 years (since 1890).” And: “The 2010 election is not and will not be 1994,” Van Hollen writes. But the 2009 elections may remind you of 1992. The Wall Street Journal’s Gerald Seib: “There is an important contest under way that will test how the rising ‘pox on both your houses’ thinking can affect real-life outcomes. It’s next month’s governor’s election in New Jersey, where the notably unpopular Democratic incumbent, Jon Corzine, could win re-election because so many people are choosing not to vote for his notably unpopular Republican foe, Chris Christie, but instead for independent candidate Chris Daggett.” If this is Round One… “[The] divide isn’t likely to go away no matter who wins in New York’s 23rd in 11 days,” Washingtonpost.com’s Chris Cillizza writes. “The head versus heart dynamic is already shaping up in Florida’s Senate primary between Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.” Speaking of intra-party warfare… This is breaking four days before President Obama campaigns for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia: “Senior administration officials have expressed frustration with how Democrat R. Creigh Deeds has handled his campaign for governor, refusing early offers of strategic advice and failing to reach out to several key constituencies that helped Obama win Virginia in 2008, they say,” Rosalind S. Helderman and Anne E. Kornblut writes in The Washington Post. “A senior administration official said Deeds badly erred on several fronts, including not doing a better job of coordinating with the White House.” Said a senior administration official: “Obama, Kaine and others had drawn a road map to victory in Virginia. Deeds chose another path.” The long knife: “Privately, administration officials said they see almost no way for Deeds to win on Nov. 3,” Helderman and Kornblut write. (Do you need another example of the Obama political operation’s willingness to cut off body parts that aren’t operating at full capacity? And if the president apologized to Gov. David Paterson, D-N.Y., for trying to strong-arm him out of a race, how does he explain to Deeds why his people are giving up for him 10 days before Election Day?) And wouldn’t you know — the GOP isn’t the only party undergoing something of a battle for its soul. For Democrats, the fight is going on inside the halls of Congress. The latest salvo: The public option is back — take cover in the middle. “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is leaning toward including the creation of a new government-run insurance program — the so-called public option — in the health care reform bill he will bring to the full Senate in the coming weeks,” per ABC’s Jonathan Karl, who was first out of the box with the news. “Democratic sources tell me that Reid – after a series of meetings with Democratic moderates – has concluded he can pass a bill with a public option.” On “Good Morning America” Friday, Karl called it a “dramatic development”: “Reid’s actions mean that this idea of creating a new government-run insurance program is now once again front-and-center in the Senate. . . . It looks like there will be no Republican support for this.” Reid “is taking a calculated gamble that the 60 members of his caucus could support the plan if it included a way for states to opt out,” Robert Pear and David M. Herszenhorn write in The New York Times. “Mr. Reid met with President Obama at the White House Thursday to inform him of his inclination to add the public option to the bill, but did not specifically ask the president to endorse that approach, a Democratic aide said. Mr. Obama asked questions, but did not express a preference at the meeting, a White House official said.” (He “did not express a preference”?) A senior Democratic aide: “There is a growing sense that we need to lead on this issue and not wait for it to be offered on the Senate floor. . . . The idea is that it’s better to show some fight.” It’s looking like a public option with a state-level opt-out (and if this comes together, does Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., get some kind of trophy?). Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.: “I keep hearing there is a lot of leaning toward some sort of national public option, unfortunately, from my standpoint,” Nelson said, per the AP’s David Espo. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: “A public option at the forefront really does put the government in a disproportionate position with respect to the industry,” Snowe said in an interview with Bloomberg TV’s “Political Capital With Al Hunt,” airing this weekend. Over on the other side — under $900 billion: “House Democrats are coalescing around an $871 billion health-care package that would create a government-run insurance plan to help millions of Americans afford coverage, raise taxes on the nation’s richest families and impose an array of new regulations on private insurers, in part by stripping the industry of its long-standing exemption from federal antitrust laws,” Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray write in The Washington Post. Maybe not so robust, however: “Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) drive for a public option in healthcare reform ran into turbulence Thursday when a survey of her caucus showed she needs more votes to pass such a bill,” The Hill’s Mike Soragham writes. “The survey ordered by Pelosi turned up 46 Democrats who said they would vote against the so-called ‘robust’ public option, according to a Democratic lawmaker who spoke on the condition of anonymity.” There’s endorsements, and then there are steps too far: “President Obama will travel Friday to Massachusetts, one of only two states to implement a universal health-care program similar to his ambitions for the entire country. But he does not plan to use the trip to make his case for far-reaching reform; he will tout clean energy and raise money for the Democratic governor,” Ceci Connolly writes in The Washington Post. The president raises money for two New England friends Friday: Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., both get a presidential visit, after a clean-energy event at MIT. Cue the populist rage: “Citigroup Inc., which has yet to repay $45 billion in federal assistance, has more lobbyists than any other company who registered to try to shape legislation regulating the financial industry, U.S. Senate records show,” Jonathan D. Salant and Lizzie O’Leary report. “The New York-based bank, 34 percent-owned by the U.S. government, is listed as a client by 46 of the 1,537 lobbyists who filed with Congress to work on President Barack Obama’s push for rules to limit financial risks and impose stricter consumer protections.” Getting in front: “You would hope after American taxpayers stepped in to save these companies from a disaster of their own making they would be deploying their army of lobbyists to strengthen and not thwart financial reform,” senior Obama adviser David Axelrod tells Bloomberg. More populism: “I just don’t buy this, these brilliant minds out there that went to Harvard Business School are making the world safe for democracy, no they’re not,” Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” Thursday. “They’re making the world safe for themselves, but they’re not helping the economy.” Is the recession over? In the new ABC News/Washington Post poll, 82 percent say it isn’t. 82 percent. “That marks more than the disconnect between definitions of recession; it also points to the land mines that pockmark the political landscape, threatening potential woe to President Obama in particular and incumbent office-holders in general. Claims of a recovery that few people feel are fraught with the taint of disconnect,” ABC Polling Director Gary Langer writes. Accountability: “President Obama, in office a month longer than Bush was when 9/11 hit, now owns his presidency,” Peggy Noonan writes in her Wall Street Journal column. “Does he know it? He too stands on rubble, figuratively speaking — a collapsed economy, high and growing unemployment, two wars. Everyone knows what he’s standing on. You can almost see the smoke rising around him. He’s got a bullhorn in his hand every day.” The next chapter in the wars with former Vice President Dick Cheney — and the headline Friday is that the White House is firing back, again. “What Vice President Cheney calls ‘dithering,’ ” said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, “President Obama calls his solemn responsibility to the men and women in uniform and to the American public. I think we’ve all seen what happens when somebody doesn’t take that responsibility seriously.” “Even more curious,” Gibbs said, “given the fact that an increase in troops [for Afghanistan] sat on desks in this White House, including the vice president’s, for more than eight months.”
ABC’s Jake Tapper checks that fact: “It’s a bit more nuanced than that. The troop requests to which Gibbs referred were made by then-Gen. David McKiernan. McKiernan started off making individual requests for brigades, and that list kept growing. Officials from that time say that demands in Iraq prevented the Bush administration from fulfilling the requests until just before Bush left office. (Prioritizing troops to Iraq over those to Afghanistan is, of course, a choice.)” Why the White House wants this fight: “Cheney lecturing Obama on Afghanistan is laughable, but the joke is on him. The ex-veep may not realize this, but he and his former boss exited office as profoundly unpopular men,” David Corn writes for Politics Daily. No more lockouts — but the Countrywide battle heats up, with two Democrats now supporting GOP efforts to widen the investigation. ABC’s Matthew Jaffe: “Rep. Paul Hodes, D-NH, and Rep. Mike Quigley, D-IL, wrote to House Oversight & Government Reform committee chairman Ed Towns, D-NY, and Darrell Issa, R-CA, informing the panel chiefs of their desire to issue a subpoena.” Gov. Tim Pawlenty, R-Minn., held his first PAC fundraiser in Washington Thursday night. Politico’s Jonathan Martin: “Pawlenty’s appearance attracted a significant number of staffers from Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign last year, some of whom have fond memories of the governor’s time as a loyal surrogate for the Arizonan during the primary and general election. Also present were scores of aides from Hill offices, some of them still sporting their badges, as well as operatives from the RNC, NRSC and NRCC – many of whom are interested in working on a White House campaign and wanted to see the man who is emerging as the chief establishment alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.” Said Pawlenty: “We don’t have a big enough party to be throwing people overboard.” (Did Sarah Palin hear that?) (Pawlenty will be a guest on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” Friday, airing at noon ET.)
The Kicker: “We want to make sure that when we do our ‘Kumbaya’ moment, that we’re all there.” — Rep. John Larson, D-Conn, not singing yet.
For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
Can Mitt Romney Win Conservatives Back? 
Possible Contraception Compromise in D.C.
I don’t care who endorses her, she is just a show off no nothing. There is nothing intelligent coming out of her mouth….Would anyone really want her to be president? She can’t even handle being governor!
Posted by: Barb | October 23, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am
BEAUTIFUL!!!! BabyDoll is causing dissension within her own party. They will either have to outright denounce her as a total nutcase–which then admits the party’s error in ever choosing her, or embrace her as a formidable force in the Party–which means certain defeat in upcoming elections. Either way, HoneyCakes is coming out a winner! Her name recognition has shot up dramatically.
Posted by: FS | October 23, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Sarah is becoming the Republicans Ralph Nader.
There’s a lot of bad things you can say about Newt (a ton of them, in fact) but you have to admit he is practical. He’s got an insight for how to win elections and he never lets principles get in the way of politics.
Posted by: OB-Wan222 | October 23, 2009, 9:43 am 9:43 am
The problem with Palin is that she is against corruption and lets face it our guys arent exactly clean in that department. I just hope nobody listens to her so we can get our progressive agenda passed. Otherwise she could derail all our efforts to get socailism passed in this country.
Posted by: Mike | October 23, 2009, 9:45 am 9:45 am
“..Palin’s decision to take sides, and to take the particular side of a conservative locked in a long-shot battle for ideological purity, crystallizes the debate about the future of the GOP.”
_________________________
I’m sure she’ll take whatever ‘side’ that’ll promote her and elevate her status. That’s the reoccuring theme.
It’s amusing that as the GOP has become more marginalized with extreme ideology, even their marginalized have become more marginalized.
Posted by: gus amaral | October 23, 2009, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Mike
Republicans are making socialism look attractive.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | October 23, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Bimbo Barbie at her best!
Posted by: pfr | October 23, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Over 30 years ago I became an Independent and have never looked back. The two party system is not working for us Americans. You don’t have to be a Harvard scholar to see people are disgusted with politics in this country.
Whether republican or democrat the last 15 years has seen many people leave their party at the polls. Mainstream America is looking for answers from the two parties that that have continued to let them down in Washington.
The time is ripe for a third party in this country.
Posted by: indymind | October 23, 2009, 10:09 am 10:09 am
Extreme ideology, this is extreme to you?
“Doug Hoffman stands for the principles that all Republicans should share: smaller government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and a commitment to individual liberty.”
–Sarah Palin
Hoffman seems like a good guy. An accountant that favors the flat tax. I guess he has had enough IRS :-) As an FP/CPA, so have I!
What democrats are finding out right now, and republicans found out in 1994 is that compromising your principals means you cannot get things done. They cannot pass obamacare because of divisions in their own party.
Posted by: Mark | October 23, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am
The Democratic party has not let Democrats “down”. Matter of fact, it’s worked for a few conservatives as well, who have denounced the GOP as a party too far off the map.
Posted by: Conserva Tiff | October 23, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am
I guess I would ask Newt what good is winning a small battle while loosing the war. It is undeniable that the majority of us are concerned about the direction of the country, the corruption, the outright spin that we are subjected to on a daily basis. If republicans care enough to snub politics as usual how long will it be that sane democrats will feel the same?
Posted by: david | October 23, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
What a Dimwit, she didn’t even write this book, some Ghost Author did.. Yet she’s taking all the credit going on Book signing gigs, Opra, the Same Oprah who told her to get lost during the Elections.. Have Some Dignity Sarah Quitter and tell Oprah NO THANKS.. But we know that ain’t gonna happen to this Failed Beauty Queen who’ll do anything and anyone to get into the lime light. If her and Limbah are the new Faces of the Faultering Republican Party, they’re doomed.
Posted by: PhoneySarah | October 23, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
40% of Americans have a favorable opinions of Sarah Palin & having of friends of 1,000,000 and so on. This is a huge potential numbers that can be the winner in 2012 for Palin even though she has taken low profile since she stepped down Gov. of Alaska. I’ve respected her faith journey and what
she has done for America. GO SARAH PALIN IN 2012.
Posted by: JR-NY | October 23, 2009, 10:30 am 10:30 am
“…and a commitment to individual liberty.”
–Sarah Palin
___________________
That’s what the insurers and bankers think, too. Yes Sarah, we all dream of a time when we pay entirely & directly to the corporations themselves, rather than pay taxes to the big ole’ ugly government. Keep everything privatized, so corporations can continue to make huge profits, without accountability, at the expense of the people. “Individual liberty” is only as good as the system in which it operates. Yes, Sarah, lets hope for freedom, a country [like Somalia, for instance] that lacks a formal government.
Posted by: gus amaral | October 23, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
She Quits her Day Job in Alaska, after digging them into the ground saying it was to be with her Family then immediately she starts making the Rounds and appearing all over the place taking any and all handouts coming her way.. She has someone write this book for her and now she’s parading around like she’s some great Author? Whah? ROFLM-Liberal-AO.. Someone take this Moose Hunter back to Alaska where she belongs to answer to the Alaskans as to why she left them in a financial Hole!
Posted by: PhoneySarah | October 23, 2009, 10:33 am 10:33 am
JR NJ – “40% of Americans have a favorable opinions of Sarah Palin & having of friends of 1,000,000 and so on” So what’s new? that’s about the count for Conservative Right Wing Whackos.. How about the 60% of Americans that see her as a total Moron?
Posted by: SarahQuitter | October 23, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Go Palin! The democrats are must love you right now.
Posted by: tonyatq | October 23, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am
OH LORD, Please Let Sarah Quitter and either Joe the Fake Plumber or Draft Dodger Chenney run in 2012! Please, Lord we Liberals would want nothing more than to see this Air Head and one of those two losers running on behalf of the lifeless Republican Party…
Posted by: SarahQuitter | October 23, 2009, 10:37 am 10:37 am
Sara Palin is the Best thing that happened to the Democrats!
Posted by: Angie in PA | October 23, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am
If Phoney Sarah Quitter had an ounce of dignity left she’d tell Liberal Opra who snubbed her chosing Obama to get lost and go appear on her leaders (Rush the Lush) Radio talk Show or his hand puppet Sean Hannity.. instead this Failed Beauty Queen is selling out to give Opra the Scoop?
Posted by: SarahQuitter | October 23, 2009, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Nothing better then watching the Republican Party attack each other like a pack of Crazed Pit Bulls with Lipstick! The infighting that will continue to escalate as Obama continues to score Victories is just exhilirating! Kinda like a Crazy MMA mega match amongst Country Bumpkins… The Repukeblicans are starting to give the WWE a run for their Money. All we need is put Phoney Sarah in a Spandex outfit and hand her a Whip as she trains Cheney to mud Wrestle…
Posted by: SarahQuitter | October 23, 2009, 10:45 am 10:45 am
It is definitely time for a party that represents a large number of everyday conservatives Americans. The Republican party is a party of hypocrisy and the Democrats seek to a homogeneous America that has no room for the individual liberty to not be subject to a government sponsored ideology. “Conservative Party” That sounds like a brand that a good number of everyday Americans can be comfortable with. As long it promotes the liberty of individual self determination and freedom from establishment control, then I’ll consider voting for them. I am so tired of the usual celebrity politicians that exude a flawless facade or an entitlement to moral exception. You know the ones that have a spin staff that guards the curtain that hides the puppet masters behind the politician and explains away gaffs. I want real people in government with all their baggage up front. Those that can identify with everyday Americans and will lighten or remove the burdens piled on them because some think it’s fair to spread the misery.
Posted by: TX_MBell | October 23, 2009, 10:56 am 10:56 am
I would love to see Palin run in 2012. It would make for an historic political comedy.
Posted by: Archie | October 23, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
If the dems win this race they would have to give the credit to Sarah.
Posted by: tonyatq | October 23, 2009, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Two Things Amy in Maine so you Do admit Obama is a Socialist! Two why are liberals so sexist?
Posted by: batesba74 | October 23, 2009, 11:21 am 11:21 am
When Sarah Palin is sworn in as the next president, I can’t wait to see how the anti-American libs respond. Will they finally move to canada, cuba, or europe as so many of them as promised before when election haven’t gone their way? They don’t like this country anyway, so I will certainly not miss them.
This is all provided of course that this great nation of ours is still functioning after the current marxist in power does his hatchet job on our contsitution.
Posted by: Palin2012 | October 23, 2009, 11:32 am 11:32 am
I do not understand how Reps can support this woman. Seriously, she quit her job for what? She threw her hands up while under pressure and went home. That’s not the role of a ‘leader.’ I really, REALLY hope she doesn’t run in 2012. I won’t vote for her. While her not being from DC is a good thing, her previous job performance is lacking…her begging for attention is immature…and, let’s face it, she’s not the brightest person out there.
just my .02
Posted by: stdntDrvr | October 23, 2009, 11:37 am 11:37 am
batesba74
You will find that liberals are some of the most sexist and racist people around. They insist on ALWAYS looking at someone as black, white, latino, gay, straight, male, female. Instead of all of us just being Americans, they insist on labels.
Just remember, the democrat party is the party of the 4 S’s….
Slavery
Secession
Segregation
Socialism
The dems only began receiving the black vote (MLK was a republican) once they began to bribe the black community with welfare and entitlements. Just look back at the statistics, when blacks voted republican their statistics relative to whites were almost equal in home ownership,crime, marriage, out of wedlock births, ect….
And then wham! The liberal politicians began to bribe them with entitlements and the black community has been suffering ever since.
Posted by: Palin2012 | October 23, 2009, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Sarah Palin is becoming the GOP’s Vietnam. You can’t dump her without losing face and keeping her is a sure road to disaster.
Posted by: The_Mick | October 23, 2009, 11:40 am 11:40 am
Palin became Gov on her own. She was not the product of a corrupt political machine, such as our current marxist president was. She became gov, and sold the private jet and fired the private chef- that is the kind of politician I want!
Barry on the other hand, used his political power to purchase a 2 million dollar mansion in a “sweetheart” deal with convicted slumlord and felon, tony rezko (who also happened to be his biggest senate campaign organizer). If the media had only done their job, we would not be in this mess right now.
Palin fought corruption, while barry was in bed with it. Rev racist, bill ayers, rashid khalidi, tony rezko, blago, the list goes on and on.
Posted by: Dave | October 23, 2009, 11:45 am 11:45 am
I find it funny how Liberals are acting so arrogant! They attack Sara Palin for one reason they are sexist and she is a woman with an opinion. I am glad they are attacking her, they are showing the true hypocrisy of the Democratic party! And maybe this is why the poll #’s show them falling fast. Republicans in 2010 and 2012.
Posted by: batesba74 | October 23, 2009, 11:50 am 11:50 am
The idea that Bob Dole, and now Newt Gingrich hold that you vote for anyone who is a registered Republican is foolish and it’s why Republicans are having problems today. If a candidate is not a Conservative, he/she should not be promoted as a Republican. Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and other RINOs vote like Democrats because they are Democrats wearing a phony Republican label. Republicans should support Conservatives and only Conservatives.
Posted by: Ron | October 23, 2009, 11:51 am 11:51 am
“Palin became Gov on her own. She was not the product of a corrupt political machine, such as our current marxist president was. She became gov, and sold the private jet and fired the private chef- that is the kind of politician I want! Palin fought corruption, while barry was in bed with it. Rev racist, bill ayers, rashid khalidi, tony rezko, blago, the list goes on and on.”
Uh… KNOCK! KNOCK!!! …Palin Q-U-I-T,
QUIT!!! She quit way before her term was far from over and why? …..$$$$$$!
Yup! thats the type of elected official YOU want!
Posted by: FS | October 23, 2009, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm
Centrist Republicans and Democrats are the wave of future politics. A new party is about to emerge. Spending really does matter to this as well as future generations.
Posted by: mmonroeliveson | October 23, 2009, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
FS
She quit because she was unable to devote her full attention to her state because of lunatic liberals attempting to destroy her politically. Ridiculous obamabots had 20 lawsuits lined up against her. As a result Palin, along with her staff, were not able to adequatlely serve the people she said. My God! A politician who actually acts on behalf of the people?!
She could have easily coasted the rest of her term, but instead she stepped down puting her state first. So to reiterate, yes, she is exactly the kind of politician I want.
Barry bought a mansion through a sweetheart deal with a convicted slumlord and Palin sold the private jet. I think I will take her anyday. You can have the anti-American marxist from Chicago.
Posted by: Dave | October 23, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
Palin is a free thinking individual with the country’s interest at heart. Dems don’t have anyone that does that, and most of the republicans are as dirty as the dems. Come up with all your critisism, she is a force to be taken seriously. Petty, sexist comments doesn’t bother her, and it makes her critics look like small minded jealous turds! The working class needs more people like Mrs. Palin. She puts respect and truth back into politics. She puts home and country first.
Posted by: Mike | October 23, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
It’s too funny that the libs want Palin to run in 2012 to help obama.
They already know that barack is so pathetic and can’t run on his own accomplishments, or lack there of.
Posted by: Reality2009 | October 23, 2009, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
“She puts home and country first.”
Say what? She campaigned for the Vice Presidency with a six month old special needs infant! She put her pregnant, unwed teenage daughter through a national media campaign!
ooook. That’s your idea of great values. It’s not mine.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | October 23, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
JR…you and Sarah baby just keep thinking like you do. People like you and her are simply “the gift that keeps on giving”. I hope you and your “minority” cohorts never figure it out. Maybe…just maybe then we can get our country straightened out and back on the right track.
Posted by: CND FOX | October 23, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
Shucks! I didn’t see her endorsement on TV!!…missing Sarah Palin speak on TV is like missing an episode of the “Simpsons”, except she makes me laugh harder.
:-)
Posted by: X-Republican Because of Bush | October 23, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
The article states that Gingrich says “My number one interest in the 2009 elections is to build a Republican majority. If your interest is taking power back from the Left, and your interest is winning the necessary elections, then there are times when you have to put together a coalition that has disagreement within it.”
Sorry, bub, but the INDEPENDENTS that accidentally put Obama into the WH aren’t going to turn around and put YOU whackos back in as a replacement.
We’re looking for INDEPENDENT candidates, beholding to not a 3rd party, but to NO party!!!
As for Palin, I’m GLAD she’s out there, shaking “The Establishment” on BOTH sides of the isle. The left AND right hate her because she’s a SERIOUS threat to the STATUS QUO!!! G’Bye, status quo!!
Posted by: Fed_up_with_BOTH_Parties | October 23, 2009, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
“..Palin became Gov on her own”
_________________
No, she sneaked in as an unknown -by chance and pure luck- because everyone hated her opponent. It’s public knowledge that people voted her in because she was NOT her opponent.
So, Palin was an opportunist then as well. I’m sure you’ll read the facts in her faux-biography written by a Californian Christian fundamentalist promoter.
Posted by: Conserva Tiff | October 23, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Posted by: Mike | Oct 23, 2009 12:40:10 PM posted: “She puts respect and truth back into politics. She puts home and country first.” Delusional!
Mike, this woman quit her job as an elected government official because it was time to cash in. Palin is by far the most attractive woman in politics. People aren’t “jealous” or “petty” because they disagree with her politics – they simply view her as self absorbed and ignorant about most aspects of foreign and domestic policy. She’s an erratic party of One.
Posted by: CenterOne | October 23, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
Ah, the split between the ideologues and the politicians widens and widens. I’d bet a week’s pay that the politicians will win this, at least against the ideologues, but not for a long, long time. And, as long as the fight goes on, conservatism/Republicanism will be a fringe movement in American politics like it is now.
Posted by: whybeconservative? | October 23, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
you faithful conservative followers want so much to identify with the Sarah Palin product. Living vicariously through a media figure is sad. Perhaps you think she’s just like you, and if becomes the President or someone important, so will you?
This isn’t hollywood or conservative radio land. This is reality.
Posted by: Conserva Tiff | October 23, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Gingrich is wrong — If you stand by GOP candidates that do not have conservative values, the “right” doesn’t deserve your vote — Then you get McCains and Bushes, more socially and fiscally liberal then they should be!! — Voting strictly to “build the Republican party” without conservative principals is the WORST THING conservativesd can do!!!
Posted by: MidwestValues | October 23, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
OK, what party represents me?
I’m pro-choice, but pro-life within the boundaries of my family
I’m a fiscal conservative – the smaller government can be, the better (e.g., GET OUT OF MY LIFE)
I’m opposed to same-sex marriages
I’m opposed to any form of religion (agnostic, if you MUST label me)
The USA is a land of OPPORTUNITY, not a land of ENTITLEMENTS
I’m opposed to granting amnesty to illegal aliens, and in fact consider them to be the LAST people I’d allow into my country (already demonstrating a disregard for the laws of this country)
I’m opposed to the “public option”
I’m in favor of controlling health care COSTS (e.g., tort reform)
I’m in favor of term limits on Congresspersons
I’m in favor of allowing referendums to be placed on FEDERAL ballots by the public
I’m in favor of ethics reform in Government
I’m in favor of either giving our Commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan EVERYTHING they need to win, or getting us out of both countries NOW!
I guess that’s enough for now… since NO ONE represents me in ALL of the above.
WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT PRESIDENT and INDEPENDENT CONGRESSPERSONS!!!
Posted by: Fed_up_with_BOTH_Parties | October 23, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
So lets vote for more terms of the liberals. Destroy the charity of church and civic organization in favor of the government dole. Substitute the role of family parenting with government agencies that promote homogenization of the people to get them to conform to state sponsored ideologies. Remove the concept of God from the moral compass of individuals that have faith and hope that life is more than the dust and dirt they are made of; people that would otherwise be vicious predators. Elevate government leaders above God so that politicians can become the focus of our nation’s devotion. No thank you. The concept of God is different to many people but it is a concept that is more enduring and trustworthy than the vitriol designs of men. So yes it is “In God We Trust”. My devotion will never be to a celebrity or politician that leads me into complacency or a state of mind for nothing better after this life.
Posted by: TX_MBell | October 23, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
FedUp —- I agree on every one of your beliefs except “pro-choice” and “religion”. — I consider myself ultra-conservative, almost bordering on libertarian!! — I guess it depends on the “degree” to which you support those issues!! I think your very much a fiscal and constitutional conservative with some liberal “social” beliefs!! — The point? — NEITHER party has represented us very well in the last decade!!!!
Posted by: MidwestValues | October 23, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
By the time the “conservatives” finish purging their party, the Republican Party will be down to about three million people who won’t be able to elect a dog catcher in their home towns. Suits me just fine. That leaves room for a new national party that truly is centrist and moderate and will draw from the excommunicated Republicans and independents to become a real force in American politics. The “conservatives” have radicalized the Republican Party beyond any and all redemption.
Posted by: windrider | October 23, 2009, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
By definition, a rogue is a dishonest, theiving scoundrel, a liar, someone who makes up his or her own laws. Palin fired fired Public Safety Commissionaer Walter Monegan, because he was a “rogue” employee – his crime taking a trip to Washington DC to get more money to safeguard women – since Alaska has one of the highest rates of rape and sexual assault in the country.
Now, she masquerades as a rogue.
Remember, rogues never tell the truth. Don’t believe a word that rogue Sarah Palin says.
Posted by: William Joseph Miller | October 23, 2009, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
windrider — YOU said “The “conservatives” have radicalized the Republican Party beyond any and all redemption.” — Funny, I was just going to say that about the Dems!! — The socialists and marxists have penetrated your party from TOP to bottom!!! — Don’t you feel a little bit “used” by them???
Posted by: MidwestValues | October 23, 2009, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
william —- I think she meant “mischief that causes discomfort or annoyance in others” —- are you annoyed??
Posted by: MidwestValues | October 23, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
MidwestValues – Make that TWO decades, and you’re SPOT ON!!!
I’m pro-choice in that I don’t believe the Government should have a play in the decision, but again, I’m pro-life within the confines of my family – IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN in MY family. But in my neighbor’s? It’s up to them.
As for religion? It’s not even a political issue, so it really doesn’t matter if we agree or disagree on that matter. Separation of church and state… keep religion OUT of politics, and I’m good to go.
You’re right – we need REPRESENTATION, not Party Loyalists.
Posted by: Fed_up_with_BOTH_Parties | October 23, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
From all the criticism she evokes from BOTH sides of the isle, I think Sarah has done WONDERS for the INDEPENDENT voters of America.
Democrats, you’ll surely remember THEM as the voters that simply handed your party the Presidency AND a majority in both houses of Congress.
You’ll ALSO remember them as the voters that took it all away in 2010!!!
Fool me once, shame on me… fool me twice? NOPE!!!
Posted by: Fed_up_with_BOTH_Parties | October 23, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Moose Barbie….aka Bible Spice…..proves God is Democrat.
Of course, “God moves in mysterious ways.”….ergo using His servant Sarah Palin to destroy Satan’s Spawn….the Republican Party.
While Sarah may not know it, she truly is doing God’s work purging the Evil Republican Party from the World. Gott sei dank’!
Posted by: Sammy | October 23, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
Fed_up_with_BOTH_Parties
Yeah, according to Pawlenty, you cannot be a Republican because you are against making abortion illegal.
They call my sneators, Snowe and Collins RINOS (Republican in name only) because they pretty much fit your criteria.
While the Republicans are busy throwing people out of their tent, the Democrats are expanding to include moderately conservative politicians. Come join us!
Posted by: Amy in Maine | October 23, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
When you have a party acting lke a chicken with it s head cut off with no leadership except crazy fanatic talk show hosts who head racists tea parties defaming a president calling him hitler. Then indeed it is time for Sarah Palin, the joan of arc, worthy or not to grab the leadership and go with it. Go get it Palin!!
Posted by: Susan | October 23, 2009, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
Having lived in NY-23 most of my life, I can tell you that Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Hoffman will only hurt his cause. The reason John McHugh was in that seat so long was thanks to his moderate stance, which always spoke to and represented both sides in Northern New York. Palin’s endorsement will smother any chance Hoffman might have had.
Posted by: Lee | October 23, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
“Would the REAL Sarah Palin please… go away?”
Posted by: Jordan | October 23, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Palin2012..LOL…LOL… “when Palin is sworn in as next President…” I hope you hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Then those of us you want to see move somewhere else won’t have to listen to you anymore!
Posted by: CND FOX | October 23, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
Mike…usually i do not try to get immersed into class warfare type of arguments … but based on your belief in Sarah “airhead” I think I know why you are still in the “working class” status.
Posted by: CND FOX | October 23, 2009, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
Amy in Maine – You said “Come join us!”
Sorry, but I can’t stomach the “Big Government” ideology of the Democrats, much less the socialization of the country.
Thanks, but I’ll stay safely INDEPENDENT!!
Come join us!!!
Posted by: Fed_up_with_BOTH_Parties | October 23, 2009, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
I wish Republicans would explain why we don’t have paradise here in the US. They controlled Congress and the White House for years. What happened to Newt’s contract with America? Cheney should explain why his Presidency (opps, I mean W’s) was such a failure or better yet just shut up.
Posted by: cregis | October 23, 2009, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm
Palin is living proof that our educational system has failed miserably. How else could this dimwit gain traction if not for a hoard of stupid folks. This country is in serious trouble.
Posted by: Bill | October 23, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Sarah Palin was chosen as the running mate for John McCain only because McCain thought he could get her in bed! She is not only an embaressment to the State of Alaska but to the entire Republican party and to every WOMAN on this planet.
Posted by: RichardsonAmie | October 23, 2009, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
HEY SarahQuitter!!
If Governor Palin is a quitter, that is for the best interest of Alaska and America. How about your idol BHO?? how you call him?? Barack Obama, the apologetic ONE?? aH YES…BHO had learned from Harvard that there are 57 states in our country USA.
Posted by: Raymond | October 23, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
I didn’t think this piece was about whether people liked Sarah Palin, but about the collision of values in the Republican Party.
People should be able to vote their values and I wonder about Newt Gingrich saying the party is more important than the values. If Hoffman and Scozzafava had similar beliefs, you might make that argument. But there is a stark difference in the stands of the two candidates, and some are deeply held beliefs.
Palin’s celebrity brought attention to the race, but the voters will have a very clear difference between these two candidates.
It’s amusing to see the buttons that Palin pushes. Take a deep breath folks…
Posted by: suki | October 23, 2009, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
It takes intelligence and wisdom to be a leader and Sarah Palin is showing that. There are to many phony republicans in Washington that need to go! This is a wake up call for the RNC. NO MORE PHONY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES!!!!
Posted by: John Demeter | October 23, 2009, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
It’s too bad that some can’t see a good thing when it is in front of them. Sarah Palin is fresh politics that we long for and you are too stupid to recognize it. Wouldn’t it be nice to get back to Congress being regular citizens and only in for two terms! Wake up America, we need a little purity.
Posted by: Mary Sewing | October 24, 2009, 12:01 am 12:01 am
It has been said JS Huntlands is in the top 50 best up-coming authors
Posted by: JS Huntlands | October 24, 2009, 5:31 am 5:31 am
You liberals crack me up. Do you understand how stupid you sound?
Calling the views of the USa for the last 200 odd years extreme? The thought that individual freedom is extreme? That limited government is extreme when we have seen the 100′s of millions of humans killed by Big government in the last hundred years as the Soviet Union, China, Germany killed its own citizens who had the spunk to question their countires total governmental powers?
You rail against the capitalist system yet you enjoy the fruits of that system that have brought you the highest standard of living the world has ever known. You pray for socialism even knowing that is was those systems that brought abject poverty to 100′s of millions of humans. societies that could not feed themselves , that had bread lines, and riots when goods arrived in the stores. Societies that could not build autos, building that could stand the test of times, nor feed and cloth their people.
China had to turn to capitalism and away from socialism to feed its people. It seems like you idiots would rather America become a land of hunger and poverty instead of the greatest economy in the world.
Yeah its extreme to have faith in the individual humans ability to govern themselves, to require a limited government to serve at the whims of its citizens and ensure the protection of the nation. Yeah sure it is.
Socialists are the extreme people, the ones that have caused the mass murders of the gulags, the killing fields of Cambodia, the 70 million+ chinese deaths in “reeducation camps”. The starvation of North Korea. The millions of deaths caused by hunger, poverty, sickness around the world. When was the last time a capitalist country had a famine?
Cuba the island utopia of the soicalists can not even produce enough toliet paper.
As an American I am proud that when I go to the store there is plenty of food, plenty of toliet paper, plenty of clothes and materials to furnish my home and enjoy my life. All of that plenty is due to capitalism. Socialism is a failed, extreme type of government that has failed every time it has been followed. And not just failed but failed in epic ways.
Posted by: unseen | October 25, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Not all quitters are bad leaders and not all Havard grads and intellectual elites are effective leaders. Sarah Palin quits her job because of evil leftwing that smear her down, others politicians continue to be on their job for the sake of personal interest. AMERICA is following the path of the once Mighty Rome. Romans built Rome with their conservative principles. Then, Rome was detroyed from within because their elite politicians embraced extreme liberalism contributed by foreigners.
Posted by: Raymond | October 25, 2009, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
“You rail against the capitalist system yet you enjoy the fruits of that system that have brought you the highest standard of living the world has ever known.”
I bet you think Sean Hannity’s extolments are peachy keen too.
•“We live in the single greatest best country God gave man.”
•“We say it’s the greatest country God gave man.”
•“I happen to think America is one of the greatest, most generous, kindest, best countries on earth.”
•“America is the single greatest nation that God ever gave man on this earth.”
•“The single, greatest, best, freest country God ever gave man.”
•“The US is the greatest, best country God has ever given man on the face of the earth.”
Posted by: WWW | October 25, 2009, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
You just don’t get it. The purpose of the Palin endorsement was to make sure the liberal republican loses. Then in 2010 the republicans will put forward a true fiscal republican and win the seat or the same thing will happen.
This has nothing to do with gay-marriage or abortion it has to do with smaller government, fewer taxes, and strong defense.
It will be in their court now.
Newt is so over with.
Posted by: PalinforthePeople | October 25, 2009, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
“Rogue to Redemption: Palin endorsement brings intra-party battle to fore”?
Seems to me that a better title would be “Republicans begin clearing the GOP temple of rouges and pretenders.”
Posted by: Duuuuh | November 1, 2009, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
“OH LAWD”! lol lol! I have a solution to the escalating our of control bickering, mudslinging by the GOP. Let’s bring all our TROOPS home, because we’re at war amongst the parties right here and the USA is going to hell fast, in a gasoline basket!!! I am sure those other Countries are laughing their heads off at how nutty our politician appear. Bring the Troops home to fight the wars in the USA, clean up politics, stop the violence, and make the numb-nuts Joe Tha Plummer Vice President, and Wacko Sarah Moose Quitter President, that should shake up everything, at least we will all have something to really laugh about. Thank you Joe Tha Plummer and Sarah Moosy Palin, yahooooooooooooo! You two will take us back 50 years! What’s happening here is the numb nuts, don’t understand a President who has super smarts and high- IQ; no I didn’t say BBQ, lol lol! Some of you jus want to fight and fight and continue on with the warmongering! The President we have now does not. Give me a break, he has done more in one year than the last president did in 8 years! Sounds like some of the wrong folks went to jail during the Bushism area, you know what I mean? lol lol! GOP, you guys are a real joke. Thanks for sending us Joe Tha Plummer, Glen Beck, who obviously needs to be on xanax or something, to calm himself down a bit, well, speaking of Sarah, she is crusading around as if she thinks she will finally win a “Beauty contest with no brain to back her up AGAIN”. Don’t get me started on “Rush” the Pitbull! lol lol!
Posted by: Emerald | November 2, 2009, 5:50 am 5:50 am
Shucks! I didn’t see her endorsement on TV!!…missing Sarah Palin speak on TV is like missing an episode of the “Simpsons”, except she makes me laugh harder.
:-)
Posted by: X-Republican Because of Bush
————————————-
You will laugh harder listening to any of baracks lame ideas………
Posted by: Reality2009 | November 22, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm