T. Belman. My long time readers will know that I unabashedly supported Sara Palin. This article brought back many memories. The author was a senior adviser to the McCain Ticket and no particular fan of Palin’s. All the more interesting that she recognizes her strong suit as has Trump. When Palin was governor she had a 87% approval rating, the highest in the nation by far. She accomplished this by working across the aisle and producing important legislation. Her public appeal was based on her fearless attacks on the establishment and the media. Trump is merely catching the wave that she built. If you look at many of his policies though ill defined, he is again building on what she identified.
Trump went all in and hired Michael Glassner, her campaign manager, who ran her aborted campaign for the Republican nomination in 2012. No doubt this time around, she will be repeatedly stumping for Trump as she put if. She will bring in the conservative base even though Trump is a New York liberal.
DONALD J. TRUMP has made a shrewd bet. For the first time since he descended an escalator in Trump Tower last June to announce that this time, he really was running for president, he ceded control of his campaign message. He handed the Trump-bedecked podium over to Sarah Palin.
Mr. Trump’s bet: When the politician most fluent in American rage roars, the movement she gave voice to in the fall of 2008 will roar back today.
With his call to deport illegal immigrants, especially because Mexico sends us its “bad ones,” his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the country, his emphasis on the threats to lawful gun ownership and his promise to protect American goods and workers from China, Mr. Trump is riding the wave of anxiety that Ms. Palin first gave voice to as Senator John McCain’s running mate. Mr. Trump has now usurped and vastly expanded upon Ms. Palin’s constituency, but the connection between the two movements is undeniable.
As a senior adviser to the McCain-Palin campaign in 2008, I understand why, to this day, Senator McCain remains gracious toward Ms. Palin. Despite her shortcomings, she brought out the largest crowds that we’d seen since the campaign started. Voters stood for hours on the rope line to meet her. Her legacy lies in her innate ability to wrap herself in the anger that those voters felt. While Senator McCain seemed slightly unnerved by the intensity of their discontent, Ms. Palin basked in it.
I stood backstage at a rally in Minnesota in October 2008 where Senator McCain took the microphone from a woman in the crowd who spoke about her fears, including that Barack Obama was “an Arab.” Senator McCain said, “No, ma’am,” and explained that Mr. Obama was a good and decent family man and an American with whom he simply disagreed on policy matters. This interaction will go down as one of the finest moments from one of the country’s finest men. But it was also an early warning that the Republican base was profoundly agitated.
To some in the news media, voter anger seems like a new phenomenon. But they attended the same Palin rallies I did — we all should have seen this coming. The Alaska governor whipped the crowds into a frenzy with her fiery attacks on the media and the establishment politicians that she had gleefully upended in the Alaska statehouse. When her rallygoers shouted crude comments from the stands, as the woman at the Minnesota rally had done, there was no confrontation between Ms. Palin and the offender. When the press started to report on the angry rhetoric coming from those Palin crowds, I remember Senator McCain’s concern. The growing furor in the Republican Party was something that we, as a campaign, failed to address, but to the crowds, Sarah Palin proved the more satisfying politician on the ticket because of it.
Ms. Palin owned the resentment voters in the Republican Party. They became her cause. And when the campaign concluded, she became the poster politician for the Tea Party movement. She was its first star, and hers became a coveted endorsement. Ms. Palin typically picks candidates who are trying to unseat incumbents and more experienced politicians, an ironic development considering that she was selected as a running mate to reinforce Mr. McCain’s brand as a “maverick” — but a maverick who worked within the Senate and the Republican Party.
She has now turned the institutions in which he has proudly served into liabilities for the candidates running against her mama-grizzly-approved outsiders. The party bears some responsibility for her success. Our base has grown increasingly exasperated with Washington Republicans who, despite historic victories in the midterm elections of 2010 and 2014, seem incapable of reversing President Obama’s legislative agenda or asserting themselves in the country’s foreign policy debates.
Ms. Palin has amassed a decent record of success by endorsing conservative stars like Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Ted Cruz, of Texas, in his Senate bid. But no endorsement returned her to the spotlight like this embrace of Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump improves upon Ms. Palin’s jagged attempts at a post-2008 message with a vision for reclaiming American greatness by promising better trade deals, improved care for veterans, a more successful foreign policy based on his personal strength and immigration reform that is based mostly on building a wall. His proposals are, at best, vague and of questionable legal soundness, but they’ve propelled his candidacy by inflaming voter concern that America has lost ground.
That he would refine and recalibrate his proclamations in a general election or as president is a widely held assumption among the Republican establishment. It’s possible that this is the kind of false comfort that people on a sinking ship murmur to one another about how death by drowning really isn’t a bad way to go.
We’ll never know if Sarah Palin would have taken her turn atop the polls at any point during this year’s Republican primary if she’d decided to run. Her inclusion may be the only thing that could have made it more extraordinary. During Ms. Palin’s 37-minute score settling-slash-endorsement address last week, Mr. Trump seemed, at times, uncomfortable and eager for her to wrap things up. Should he come out on top in Iowa, he has her to thank.
Nicolle Wallace, an analyst for MSNBC and the author, most recently, of the novel “Madam President,” was a senior adviser to the McCain-Palin campaign.
If this is true I am switching sides to Trump in this pullout argument.
However if someone wants to buy Trump Buddah style replica 3D printed let me know! They are limited edition and only sold to the committed.
Bear Klein Said:
fox called him and everyone else in a panic… poor charles, they told him that if he wants to appear again in the future on fox he better try to get the donald on the show. All the more reason to screw murdoch and his open borders support and funding. Murdoch and fox are frauds.
To Felix from Bear –
Condescension – maybe – truth yes. I am not running for office (would never get elected) so your endorsement is puzzling.
Another good reason to vote for Trump is that I just read:
Samuel L. Jackson on Donald Trump: “If That Motherf*cker Becomes President I Will Move my Black Ass to South Africa” (Video)
On market economics should you not be for Bernie Sanders he is a socialist?
Trump amusing now that is condescension so I endorse totally Bernard and Max!
To Felix from Bear –
Condescension – maybe – truth yes. I am not running for office (would never get elected) so your endorsement is puzzling.
Another good reason to vote for Trump is that I just read:
Samuel L. Jackson on Donald Trump: “If That Motherf*cker Becomes President I Will Move my Black Ass to South Africa” (Video)
On market economics should you not be for Bernie Sanders he is a socialist?
@ Max:
One way I hear Trump is making American Great Again is that Whoppi Goldberg is going to move from the USA if he wins. As long we get these type of pledges and these people do not consider moving to Israel Trump could get my vote (well maybe not)
Moderation – 226
.
@ Max
Max I do not hate Trump in fact I find him quite amusing and better than Hillary or Bernie Sanders or Jeb Bush (maybe got to think about that one).
I also except to find some of the “Trumptonians” soon worshiping at the feet of little fat Trump replicas sort of like Buddah’s. Have you ordered yours yet?
I hear Botero has been commissioned to create an origninal Trump by Botero. Some people are using 3D printers to make theirs. Finally I have a new need for the 3D printer. If you’d like I will make you one $500 and I will donate $100 to your favorite charity.
@ Bear Klein:
Judging by the hysterical irrational propaganda you are posting taken form the hysterical irrational MSM , he is a shoe in.
I swear , the ladies on the view – they spend 20 minutes a day dissing Trump in the most irrational ways ..but their voices are literally shaking lately – they are in shock their propaganda walls are crumbling.
@ bernard ross:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve_nXOVfswo
folks dont understand Trump because he is not a pol he is a businessman. When folks you do business with try to push you into a corner thinking you have no options its a great feeling to walk away and watch them cry in a pile of shiite. Trump made fools out of all those whose life depends on the fox debate, and again he did it in the most economical and succinct manner: he just walked away and let them sweat, showing them it matters not to him… and in fact he will gain as a result. He realizes that fox is out to get him for Murdoch and the GOP establishment… Murdoch wants rubio…… Trump has nothing to lose; the rest are butt licking dogs.
fox is going nuts, calling everyone in the hopes of getting Trump back… Trump should stay out and teach them a lesson…. Reagan also did not attend the last iowa debate and he lost Iowa but won by a landslide. How many debates do they need to get votes from Trump?
@ Max:
Max you think Trump will win Iowa?
Did Trump create his own trap by demanding that FoxNews sit Megyn Kelly down as the moderator.
He was definitely going in the right direction before this ploy to get more attention backfired.
Now he is being roundly shot at by all sorts of Republicans who had been silent.
Cruz has put the Donald in a corner by saying if you will not debate me on FoxNews, name your place, moderator or none (one on one). Will the Donald fall into this trap? If he refuses (which he will because he is scared of Cruz mano on mano) he will look foolish again and not Presidential.
People forget FoxNews is not running for President its Donald Trump. He has convinced many people that he is the right person but many more do not know. Not one vote has been cast and anything could happen.
If nothing else, Trump as my significant other points out, is certainly entertaining. That he will be win or lose. “Have ego will Travel” should be his mantra and not make America great again.
Bear Klein Said:
You should really differentiate between your wishful thinking/fantasies and reality. You keep this up and one day you will not know if you are a hippopotamus or a walrus.
read this to see what crooks fox, murdoch and rubio are….. Americas media and politics is under the control of foreigners like murdoch and soros. I hope trump gets rid of them all.
Bear Klein Said:
perhaps he would make a good AG in a Trump presidency? Trump can probably pick good advisors, he’s been doing that all his life as a businessman.
people still looking for straight talk and less BS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOKi5YeNtRI
Bear Klein Said:
LOL, Trump has implied that fox and megyn are irrelvant to his plans… and they are. Who cares what fox and kelly say, think or want? Its no about them, although they would like it to be, its about the candidates and Trump is the most popular one. He is simply demonstrating what every businessman knows makes sense…. he is showing them HIS power…. he is demonstrating HIS ability.
In one fell swoop, just like his brilliant one liners…. he has handled megyn kelly, fox news, the GOP establishment designs, the saudi prince who owns part of fox…. he has nuetered them like a spayed pussycat. He does not care, and neither do I. It is more important to slap down the establishment than to watch another episode of megyn kelly and the girls of fox hiking their skirts higher and modeling their thighs. Really, is that the serious journalism that fox talks about?
I only watch fox news when i am at burger king and all i remember are those girls hiking their skirts….. for some reason which eludes me, my memory is very poor regarding their news and discussions. Perhaps their “journalism” is too serious for me?
Bear Klein Said:
Iowa is a caucus and NOT a primary vote… hence the GOP establishment can manipulate sabotaging Trump. Even if they win in Iowa it appears that dissatisfaction among GOP voters is huge and unaddressed by the typical array of GOP establishment and conservative clones. The election of the last GOP opposition has proved that they are worthless losers who gave obama everything he wanted in return for the TPP and HB1 visas. The most useless majority opposition I have ever seen. The GOP has no business winning an election unless its Trump.
Bear Klein Said:
whats great about a RINO or the establishement GOP? I am against TPP, HB1 visa scam, muslim immigration(not muslim vetting failures),and the end to sending american jobs to foreigners and throwing americans out of work… only Trump in the GOP gives even lip service to these issues of mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtL41Pr2d5s
Bear Klein Said:
DUH????? that was then, this is now, DUH???????
She demonstrated Bias and manipulation and he has the chutzpah to say that he will not allow them to make money off him. He satnds up for himself unlike BB who cannot even say these words:
“Jewish settlement in YS is legal and legitimate”
I would not be surprised if as president Trump can say those words before BB ever does.
Still wondering why you dont address the issue of BB infering that the euros and president hussein are right when they say jewish settlement is illegal and illegitimate.
Trump tells us that his personal dignity and desires is bigger than fox. He made a smart move in that his supporters are turned off by the GOP establishment and where I was supportive before of other GOP candidates I am moving further away based on immigration, muslim banning, TPP and HB1 visas. It is becoming apparent that the GOP is just a rehash of trickle down and corporate manipulation.
@ Bear Klein:
Trump (The Art of The Deal) knows what he is doing. It’s a bad deal to go on Fox so they can demean him and get rich doing so. The power of the enemedia news to be broken. The media think they are the high priests who get to anoint the leaders and decide who is in charge. They are supposed to report news , not make it.
Frack the MSM and turn a threaded steel pin up the behind aperture of excrement Fox News.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mekv7wyjGoY
Trump is a smart tactician. He knows he will get nothing from being in the debate. Instead he now demonstrates that he is bucking the GOP establishment idol. He shows he can walk away, like the iran deal. He shows the non gop voters, the independents, those in the middle, those on the fence…. that he is not one of the typical GOP establishment. He is already positioning himself for the future. Thus to those non establishment gop, and others, he lowers the threat to their interests. Most importantly he distances himself from those who support TPP and the HB1 visas that is going to drive even more american jobs away.
Such a frustration! She chose a populist, who maybe has good intentions but is lacking strong conservative believes, who easily changes his views, and often has no knowledge of what he is saying, an arrogant individual with bad temper, not intelligent, who cannot (does not want to) behave decently,who is probably a very good CEO, but is not good for being a President of the United States.
I supported Sarah Palin back in the day. Her patriotism was refreshing and hit a nerve. She rallied the Tea Party and gave them someone to wholeheartedly support.
However, her appeal has waned considerably. Supporting Trump over Cruz, when Cruz clearly stands for what the Tea Party supports, was the last straw.
I did not follow her blindly, something she seems to be counting on. That is also what the media gets wrong. The Tea Party is made of up educated, thinking adults. We do not blindly follow anyone.
Like so many others, Sarah Palin has shown us her clay feet and poor judgment. Unfortunately the Tea Party are used to this. We will find some else. Rught now is looks like Ted Cruz.
As far as Trump goes, I am enjoying watching him mix things up. But vote for him? Never!
Ex unitate vires
The ladies on “The View” are getting nervous .. and confused…it’s a good sign.
Trump for the Win!!!!
Palin has endorsed someone whose stated views for decades have been diametrically opposed to every principle she has ever purported to hold. In short, one charlatan just embraced another. Hope she was well compensated, because those of us who had respected what appeared to be her stalwart conservatism now realize that she is neither stalwart nor conservative.