Saving the GOP and The Unbearable Lightness of Being Sarah Palin

Minneapolis-St. Paul -- Even without George Bush in the Twin Cities, the GOP cannot escape its miserable record over the last eight years. (Indeed, trying to spot a recognizable Republican in town has become a favorite early-convention game.)

So you can see why Sarah Palin was such an appealing pick for John McCain. Along with all the things she brings to the table -- fresh face, mother of five, hockey mom -- Palin is notable for what she doesn't bring: a track record.

If McCain had picked any of the far more experienced candidates on his short list, they would have come fully equipped with a long paper trail implicating them in the horror show that is the Republican Party of the last eight years.

Palin has barely left a footprint on the GOP scene. And the McCain camp immediately scrubbed one of the few marks -- an ad on her campaign website featuring an endorsement from newly indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens.

So with a party brand as damaged as the GOP's is right now, lack of experience isn't a bug, it's a feature.

On HuffPost today, Bob Borosage is asking a question that all of us who value at least a a two-party system (and I would definitely prefer more than two) are wondering: How can we salvage the Republican Party?

Having a vice presidential nominee with no paper trail is a good campaign ploy, but the full-scale overhaul needed cannot be accomplished with Palin's antediluvian beliefs.

As Borosage writes, "on issue after issue -- from the Iraq War to Katrina, from contraception to consumer protection, from health care to fair trade -- a growing majority of Americans are abandoning the Republican position. The new center is progressive, not conservative."

McCain doesn't just need someone with a fresh face; he desperately needs someone with fresh ideas. That would have been the real maverick choice.

Instead, he's got someone who, in perfect agreement with the Republican platform, believes abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape or incest or to save the life of the mother.

He's got someone who, in defiance of science, doesn't believe global warming is man-made.

He's got someone who, in defiance of science, wants creationism taught in schools.

He's got someone who wants to further increase the health-care burden on the patient.

He's got someone who wants to ban all stem-cell research.

The Republican Party isn't in dire electoral straits because Middle America loves these ideas but just wants to see them implemented by a woman.

The Republican Party is in dire electoral straits because its ideas are outside the mainstream. And in choosing Sarah Palin, McCain has moved his ticket even further from the center of the country. Yes, she energizes the GOP base -- a fact that should scare the hell out of any Republican who cares about the future of the party.

The problem with today's GOP isn't the packaging; it's the product.

So read Borosage's post and let us know what you think the Republican Party should be doing to save itself. Electing McCain/Palin clearly is not the answer. What do you think the answer is?

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[JackWOrf]

What is fascinating about the reaction to Palin from the Democrats is that everyone is strangely silent about the fact that Palin is a result of Obama's INCREDIBLE STUPIDITY in not picking Hillary. Even I could see this coming. I personally advised McCain to pick Condi Rice as VP is Obama was dumb enough to not pick Hillary (which he was).

So, to put it mildly, Sarah Palin is Obama's own damn fault. She is a direct consequence of his arrogance, egomania, and poor judgement.

People like Palin because of what she IS, not because of what she believes in. She is a woman that Obama and his Obamaniacs are not going to throw under the bus, the way they threw Hillary under the bus. Getting her to QUIT while she still had a chance of winning? OUTRAGEOUS! Not counting Florida and Michigan? OUTRAGEOUS! This is a babe that they're not going to push around, and I like that.

Sure, her abortion ideas are nutty, but you have to respect that she has the courage of her convictions and does not abort the Down's Syndrome child. How DIFFERENT from Obama who will compromise his principles at the drop of a hat!

Sarah Palin is a problem for the Democrats, but it is only because of Obama's poor judgement that she even exists. If Obama had GOOD JUDGEMENT, he would have picked Hillary, and McCain would have picked someone boring like Mitt Romney.

[Falbadd]

There's a BIG difference between picking Palin vs Hillary. Palin was picked because Rush Limbaugh had been pushing for her and threatened that the RIGHT wasn't going to vote for McCain if he didn't pick her.

On the other side of the coin, I don't think ANYONE has been bashed more by Limbaugh than Hillary. He virtually runs the republican party now and I don't even want to think about the crap we'd have had to listen to for YEARS if he thought Hillary was a serious contender, much less if she had been sitting in the White House. I still haven't forgotten how vile he was to the Clinton administration PERIOD... and purely to sell himself.

[crutnacker]

Pretty much lays out her problems. Sad.

[jcsophie]

Maybe you should watch the segment on Fox News about Sarah Palin that was done several months ago or even the interview with Glenn Beck before she was asked to be the Vice Presidential candidate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKwZNwdowa4&NR=1 She's no lightweight. You know, I know that all of this scrutiny is somewhat expected in politics, but it's really sickening. There is such a double standard for women.

[oscarbee]

Let's Move Washington, D.C. to Chicago!

Sarah Palin would bring change, like she has in Alaska.

Sarah doesn't like Juneau, doesn't recognize Juneau is Alaska's capital city.

It is rare when you can find our Governor in Alaska's capital. It is rare when you can find many of her department heads living in Juneau. She told them (her Commissioners) that they don't have to live in Juneau. Jobs are migrating from Juneau to Anchorage and even the Mat-Su Borough (where Wasilla is located) -- Capitol Creep. Voters defeated ballot measures in Alaska to move the capitol as being too expensive. But Sarah must have her way.

So, if you're tired of having your Congressional delegates located sooooo far away, talk to Sarah. She just might move the capitol to Chicago!

[Dr. Sam]

After the big speech, what next? And does it (should it) matter? Palin felt able to compare her competency and background with that of Obama--a Harvard-educated lawyer chosen by his Party (not by one man) who served eight years in the Illinois Senate, is serving in the Senate as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has managed a very successful campaign and is received ethusiastically within the United States and around the world. I can't believe it. Because Palin delevered a good speech written for her by Bush-Rove divisive dark operators, that suddenly eliminates the concern we should all have about her qualification to be a potential Commander-in-Chief? If the media caves with with feelings of guilt, we are done as a democracy and the most powerful nation on earth. At its best, the media stands a sentinel of freedom.

[Disorganizer]

We have had over eighteen months to get to know Obama, and he has been grilled by everyone, even now, Fox News. We have two months left to get to know Sarah Palin, our potential new VP, or God help us, President. And she is hiding from the press? She called Hillary a whiner, and she won't even come out of her lock down with Bush's henchmen?
Here's what every American who gets a chance to see her or McCain speak should do. Demand she come out of hiding. But do it with some pizzaz. The Republicans seem to like it.
I even have a chant ready for your use. It goes like this:
Sarah, Sarah, strong and able, meet your country, talk to cable!

And for McCain:
Johnny, Johnny, strong and able, Let your pitt bull talk to cable!

[americantruth777]

folks do you think it you really wanted a dem to win an election, you would get a compaign staff that has actually WON an election, and not have the losers like howard dean, Al Gore, Mike Ducacaus
Hillary CLinton, and Kerry, all be at the democratic convention cheering for you and trying TO HELP
OBAMA, lol

the old expression goes, with friends like these lol

[thefringecenter]

You are right, if I wanted to win an election, I would pick the mayor of Wasilla. No, not America's Hockey Mom. I would pick the current mayor of Wasilla, Dianne Keller. She has more executive experience that the POW. Oops, I hope I haven't outed POW's choice for Secretary of Defense.

[MadPlatypus]

I love any article that references Milan Kundera. Hat tip.

[kashe]

As an independent Moderate Woman--there is no room for me in McCains Republican Party. After the Dem convention, I was so inspired, so optimistic that all sides could work together--I had dreams of both sides actually discussing and compromising on Bills.

With McCains pick of Palin, he brought that divide back with- a- vengeance. And also set us women back 2 steps by picking someone who is so unqualified, and who actually was not a fiscally responsible mayor, who as a governor gave no guidance to her legislators and just used line item veto. Ugh, this pick makes me so angry.

[CJWausau]

Quite frankly, this all looks like more of the same.
The 2-party system is broken and too many of our elected are "running ruff-shod" over the American voter.
Obama has alaigned himself with the "good-ole-boys" and McCain has once again put himself in alaignment with Bush.
McCain needed a decider (in case he forgot what he was doing), and he has found that in Palin. One only has to look at the controversies Palin has been or is involved in. Though she prevailed in court simply because she was legally able to fire the Police Chief "for any reason", the firing of the Police Chief stinks to high heaven of "abuse of power" as do at least 3 of the other controversies.
I'd also like to know what Palin's real reason to oppose the protection of polar bears really is and who will benefit if she prevails in her opposition to protecting the polar bear.

It would be nice if we had the option to choose the best candidate, but instead, we are once again having to choose the lesser of evils to fill the office of President of the US.

A related/unrelated issue - Have you seen the latest Jeanie Moos thing? One has to ask, "Why do we allow people to vote for the next leader of the free world who are so unaware of current events that they think Obama is McCain's running mate, or have no idea who Governor Palin is?"

[mtnrdr]

Looks like we may have to pick the one that hurts us least in the pocket book,

[JustDanish]

Read this story in Los Angeles Times today By Tom Hamburger, Richard Simon and Janet Hook, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers, September 3, 2008

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-earmarks3-2008sep03,0,6145252.story

Dont think Mrs. Perfect reformer is so perfect.

[KarenJW]

This link has been removed from cyberspace! I wonder why????????????

[mtnrdr]

But he LA times has been a biased pro liberal news papaer

[MerrillB]

Booter,
I hate to disillusion you but Palin is Not a popular Alaskan governor--her ratings stand at around 40%. In addition, the McCain/Palin ticket, if elected, would be a disaster for women and the environment, for starters. Please read more widely and listen less to what these candidates say---their words and past actions don't match and the contrast is not pretty.

[Venise Alstergren]

I'm tired, and depressed, with reason. Please Arianna, tell me I am imagining all of this. To vote for the GOP is a vote that could end world peace. Your gas prices will rocket up as McCain/Palin slug the voters for yet another war, this time in Iran. More of your youth will be sacrificed, once again because of oil.The McCain/Palin ticket is a one way street to annihilation, and the end of all sanity in the United States. Voters of America; don't be conned into voting for your own parochial issues, your own grass roots issues. John McCain will take you all onto a path of despair by his cynical putting this untested woman in a position to become a future President. He has, in this one stroke, cynically ignored every code of decency and pretense of dignity. He thinks you will vote for or against the Republican Party for squalid and petty reasons. Please America vote for what your candidate will do for the nation. Kill your nation, or destroy it. The future is in your hands.
You like to think of yourselves as the leader of the free world. Please vote accordingly.

[postman606]

You sound thoughtful and courageous.

[dcoffee]

The answer is independent parties, and public financing of campaigns. If the Republican party bites the dust, let it. Open up the playing field again by changing the election system, not the Republican party. Move election day to Saturday, get around the Electoral college, and use Instant Runoff voting in each state to make sure Independent Parties never spoil another election. If the Democrats truly hate corporate influence and lobyists, change it so that the person with the most signatures, not the most money, gets on the ballot.

[astheworldturns]

The two party system is a creature of the Electorial College. You would have to change the Electorial College system to let more than two parties be viable.

[Booter]

The best defense I have heard about Governor Palin is that she is a popular Governor and people would like to have a beer with her...sound familiar? it is that simple mindedness that got us 8 years of George W.

[videlicet]

Ms. Huffington,

I don't know if you read all these posts, but I'll start by saying I am a fan of your site, for being at the forefront of breaking news in new media. However, tonight I have become troubled by the huge disparity between the information on your site and that of, say, Townhall and other conservative blog sites that I have begun to snoop through, to see how they are covering the Palin hurricane.

The difference is very telling.

These stories are huge, yet they have not reached very far. And this is problematic, because the two very different narratives of Sarah Palin that have begun to form must collide at some point, whether Palin drops out or not. We will not hear the end of it soon, if things are not set straight, quickly.

My humble suggestion is a call to action. GOTF: Get out the facts. We've heard enough about Palin to carry us through the week, if not the next two months. But many people do not know -- for instance, that the details of the Daily Kos rumor were in fact first reported in the Alaskan news.

Our time now would be better spent informing our fellow bloggers, than laughing amongst ourselves.