Sarah Palin: The New and 'Explosive' Leader of the GOP
A standup comic once joked about his inner monologue while rubbernecking through the scene of a car accident. First the serious reaction: "Oh! How horrifying! How awful!" Then the morbidly gleeful: "Cool! Is that an arm?"
Watching the Republican Party implosion and subsequent bloody flailing has become my favorite spectator sport. "Wow, the Republican Party is really, really horribly mangled," then, "Cool! Palin's making an ass of herself on TV again!"
Why the excitement? Well, it appears as if she's being christened as the de facto leader of the Republican Party. Wednesday, for example, instead of attributing his victory to the well-known Republican majority in Georgia, Saxby Chambliss credited his expected victory to Sarah Palin's stump speeches:
"...when she walks in a room, folks just explode."
Explode? Smart choice of words, Senator. Sarah Palin makes Republicans explode. Perfect.
If Palin, in fact, becomes the leader of the Republican Party, exploding is precisely what will happen -- and not in the weirdly excited-slash-sexual way Chambliss seemed to imply. Specifically, Sarah Palin is a walking, talking psychobomb, and elevating her to anything beyond a near-term novelty will be disastrous -- in a word, "explosive" -- for the Republican Party.
And it'll be almost too much fun to watch.
As of right now, we have several contenders for this post. There's "Sister Sarah" (a nickname I don't quite understand). There's the twice divorced former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. There's Bobby Jindal, the far-right governor of Louisiana. And Tuesday, we learned that Jeb Bush might be running for Senate and thus throwing his gigantic hat into the fight for the future of the party.
How screwed are the Republicans right now? Put it this way: the sanest contender in the above list is named "Bush." Yes, Bush: a name that proved to be even less popular this year than the name "Hussein." Yet there he is front and center.
Now, it's important to clarify the schadenfreude and why the aforementioned Republican contenders are so much fun, and, more importantly, why many fellow liberals are rooting for them to keep talking.
Simply put, Palin and the others will serve to more or less confine the Republican Party to the deep South where there are enough white fundamentalist hoopleheads to provide the GOP with a respectable electoral showing, but not enough support to seriously compete nationally. In other words, the Republicans are inexplicably pushing names that will do much more harm than good. And that's just fine and dandy.
For instance, apart from her unserious pageant walking and clueless turkey geeking, it's practically impossible for Sarah Palin, with her far-right ideology and divisive politics, to expand a Republican electorate that's already suffering from, well, shrinkage. Her appeal is so laser-focused on a rabidly fanboy-ish chunk of the GOP base that many more Americans who would otherwise vote Republican will surely continue to snap to other options. Meanwhile, the Palin base -- the fanboys who are "exploding" over Sarah Palin -- are a mélange of Bush dead-enders, disgruntled former Bush loyalists who haven't yet realized that the only difference between Palin and Bush is, well, lipstick, and, of course, way too many disturbingly pervy older men. Outside of this narrow demographic, everyone else thinks she's more or less an earnest yet embarrassing joke.
Anecdotally speaking, while working the polls on Election Day, I overheard more than one relatively uninformed, uneducated Republican -- I mean, guys who probably think "peeance freeance" is an actual foreign policy term -- turn to their buddy and say (paraphrasing), "Palin's kind of an idiot. And she probably don't know what peeance freeance means neither."
The only possibilities for the resuscitation of the Republican Party are either, 1) a failed Obama presidency or, 2) an as-of-yet unannounced transformative and inspirational Republican figure.
There's nothing to really indicate the former, but there's always the freak possibility that a random cascade of uncontrollable events could swing the White House into turmoil. It happened to President Carter.
As for the latter, I really can't think of a Republican answer to Barack Obama. Once again, however, the Republicans are betting on either Sarah Palin or Bobby Jindal to be the knock-off Bizarro Obama. Palin aside, the notion that Jindal is the "Republican Obama" amplifies how truly ridiculous and desperate the Republicans are.
They're making a huge mistake in assuming that just because Jindal is young and of unusual ethnic origins that he's the equivalent of Barack Obama -- in the same way they mistakenly calculated that Sarah Palin would attract female voters just because she's a woman, even though she possessed none of the positive qualities of Senator Clinton. It's totally shallow and vaguely racist. A party which has so often dealt in identity politics and racial divisiveness to suddenly go, "Hey, look over here! We have an ethnic, too!" seems weird and awful to me.
Additionally, Jindal's religious extremism won't manufacture any new Republican voters from the middle -- he's anti-choice without exceptions, he supports teaching creationism as a science in public schools and, yes, he once performed an exorcism on a friend who he believed was possessed by a demon. Yeah, if there's one thing the Republican Party needs more of, it's religious zealotry.
So we have an exorcist, a Bush, a turkey geeker who makes people explode, and Newt, who, by the way, wrote a book imagining if the South had won the Civil War. If these cable reality show misfits represent the future of the Republican Party, it's going to be a seriously entertaining four years.
Order my new book: One Nation Under Fear, with a foreword by Arianna Huffington. Also available in stores.
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Mr Cesca could be right, of course. Ms. Palin does have a difficult road ahead if she aspires to head the Republican ticket in 2012. Her lack of visible sophistication is a two-edged sword that will be hard to wield. On the one hand, that quality turns away some moderates and independents while it simultaneously attracts those Conservatives who find sophistication akin to elitism. Clearly, she looked and acted like a raw rookie this last time around. But raw rookies can learn and can grow. Whether Ms. Palin can manage such a feat while still standing out as something fresh and different remains to be seen. I do think the fact that Mr. Cesca has taken so much time and energy here to attack Ms. Palin undercuts his argument that she is "bad" for the GOP. If he really believed that, he would be ignoring her completely. The Georgia run-off was not a clear test of her popularity since, as Mr. Cesca points out, that state has a large Conservative base. Still, it's hard to see how her work there lessened her stature. Senator Chambliss had to have invited her, and he wouldn't have risked doing so if he thought her presence would hurt him.
excellent artical Bob.. you were spot on...!!!
Thank you to whoever recommended "Quotable: Sarah Palin's Top 10 Bloopers"; it gave me some much-needed laughs (the article is on http://politicalnewsconnection.com/ ).
Sarah Palin did something even John McCain couldn't accomplish ~ she managed to make the GOP look even more ridiculous & foolish & out of touch with people than ever it had!
I hope they go for the gold!!! why pretend anymore?republicaans are the party of bigots and wackos!
you can say that again.. one thing this election did, it brought the TRUE FACE of the republican party to light
Indeed. The country has grown up a lot in the past eight years. We have learned from some tragic mistakes. We're ready to go to college and get serious about the world at large.
The GOP and Bush have remained in Junior High, making bathroom jokes and playing with themselves. They have no idea why their dumb ideas go over with fewer and fewer people every year.
Judging from the Mormon Millions and Multitudes used to push "Defense of Marriage Gay Hate Prop 8" in California, it would be a mistake to underestimate the power of religious zealots and their money in politics . . . . Palin will succeed because the Republican Party has been marginalized to a gathering of old time bigots (Chambliss et al) , greedy self serving hypocrites (Vitter, Craig, Newyt, et al) and snake dancers (Palin-Jindal) banning together under the fake mantle of "Conservatives" . . . . poor Goldwater or even Reagen (pre altz) would NEVER accept this "new Republican Conservative Party".
ummm sorry Palin will not suceed..if they were going to be so sucessful they had the backing of all the religous zelots this time and they got their ass-s handed to them.
The republicans are in a sad state of affairs. They would have to become democrats to even be considered running for anything these days.
And as long as Palin keep up her devisive attitude and wanting to separate the people, she will NEVER be presidential material. The whole party needs to grow up!
Palin has found her "explosive" niche with all the guys who formerly drooled over Ann Coulter, bought her books and failed to see that she was probably the most vitriolic and sexually frustrated woman in the country.
While I don't mind generalizing about men, I hate to generalize about women in general. But, judging by the female Palin fans that I've run into, I think, perhaps, she's popular with women who are deeply moral, but not all that intellectual, are not interested in cultures other than America's. "culture", do not trade in ideas, and love a good beauty pageant and glossy magazine cover.
Of late, Ann's jaw is wired, she's put some years on and, let's face it, become ridiculous with her attacks on 9/11 widows, Elizabeth Edwards etc. So, the perkier and more positive Alaska hockey Mom is her new replacement. Unfortunately, Palin is parochial, dangerously "Christian," unable to phrase an idea coherently, speaks in soundbites, is totally unprepared to operate in national and international spheres, knows nothing about economics and history and has a new passport. Add to that her political saavy and an ambition so strong that she is willing to trade away the privacy and dignity of at least two of her own children....and you have someone that you should not underestimate.
It's 4 years away. Anything could happen. When I saw Bush/Cheney get elected twice, I almost moved out of the country. Don't rule out that Religious Right who helped--a lot. The Repugs invited them in to expand their majority and now they can't get rid of them. The RR has recently resurrected Haggard, who was being groomed to run until he was gay that is LOL. And they are already working on 2012.
I'm just saying this religious takeover of state is hard to shake. I think in the next 4 years we need to make sure it separates.
huh?? rule out the religious right?? ummm reality check.. THEY WERE ALL INVOVLED IN THIS ELECTION.. and the religious right lost out.. so they are Ruled out as far as I am concern.. now you can be scared of the haggard and dobsons.. but ITS A NEW DAY IN AMERICA..
Well Bob, I hope your analysis is correct, because she terrifies me. I have encountered people that would elect her Supreme Empress if they could.
I just want you to remember one thing, we Democrats did not believe that anyone as stupid as George W. Bush would win an election. (Well, I guess maybe he didn't win.) At any rate, he was elected a second time.
Palin is the female coming of George Bush. The Shrub may actually be smarter, but Palin is LOVED!
The Shrub was president for 8 years. It can happen again.
Taking her for granted is a big fat mistake.
wtf?? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PALIN IS LOVED?? honey didnt you read Bob article.. she is only loved by the extreme far right.. she does not even have support of the whole republican party.. so how do you expect this woman to gain any traction.. independents highly rejected her.. so withouth independents.. Palin is DOA.
I guess you might be right, but if you spend time listening to AM radio and of that ilk, you'll find that she has an important appeal that should be more critically examined (http://musingsofanamerican.blogspot.com/2008/12/talk-show-hosts-am-radio.html). In particular the use of patriotism can be extremely (http://musingsofanamerican.blogspot.com/2008/11/country-first.html)
I think when American Idol starts up again, we will see less of Sarah.
The media loves celebrity bloobers and Sarah has filled that role well. I mean, Britney has been kind of on the upswing lately (no public head shaving,etc), so they need something to fill the entertainment pages.
She makes me cringe. So does this. I've been seeing alot about fema coffins, millions os them that can hold 3 or 4 people, & American concentration camps in America. Set up with trains, gas to rooms with no windows, wire fences like in Germany, gates that you can go in but not come out. and they're huge, 8 camps across the US so far. In Feb.2009 The New World Order is set to take over after the crash. I've been following this for years, & so far everything has come true. Could you check into it & see? I am terrified because they also show videos of the leaders talking about it like the grass is green & the sky is blue. And because everytime I put something like this up, it does'nt get posted. They say leave the country , Mexico & Canada too are all part of it. So where do you go? I am even afraid to try to post this. But, I need closure. I thought it was just a story, but now it has life. Plus Bush is so happy & it's his family that's been working on it for decades.
Here's a trip. Bush, Cheney, McCain, & Obama are all related. Go to you tube Bush, Cheney, McCain, Obama Family Tree.
Once the new administration is in place, I think we'll see less & less of Sarah Palin. IMO, she makes all American women ~ Republican or Democrat ... doesn't matter who ~ look bad & inept; and because of that & other factors, her newfound popularity won't stand the test of time.
Sarah as Republican national leader? I don't think so. Yes, she is talented, and yes, she is a very effective politician. As for fobles, she made some, not near as many as Biden, but she was a newcomer to national politics and expected to be better prepared. Joe Biden, has proven time and time he is an Ass and made some real huge gaffe's. I look forward to seeing Sarah, in any race she choses, or not,. As a national spokesperson she would be effective, but that is not her calling.
Oh, John and Sarah, lost, but surveys show about 50% of the vote for Obama, came from people ready for change, which he isn't doing. Next time, who knows?
Which he isn't doing? He hasn't even taken the oath of Office yet. How can you possibly make this kind of remark.
What is a foble? You claim that Biden made as many as Palin.
I like Joe Biden. He is an intelligent man with a great deal of personal & political integrity (esp. in international affairs & war related issues) & he isn't afraid to speak his mind despite tremendous political pressure. He's the kind of person Sarah Palin wants to be ... but could never be.
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