Rush Limbaugh says Sarah Palin

[YOhio]

is the most prominent and articulate voice for conservatism. If what he says is true, then the GOP will be wandering a lot longer than I originally thought.

My feelings on Sarah Palin have tempered somewhat since the election, when I despised her. She's a good politician and there is much to admire about her. She's great when it comes to bumper sticker conservatism. But as a leader for a cause and party she simply doesn't cut it. For the life of me I don't see her appeal as a national candidate.

[Coach McGuirk]

is the most prominent and articulate voice for conservatism. If what he says is true, then the GOP will be wandering a lot longer than I originally thought.

My feelings on Sarah Palin have tempered somewhat since the election, when I despised her. She's a good politician and there is much to admire about her. She's great when it comes to bumper sticker conservatism. But as a leader for a cause and party she simply doesn't cut it. For the life of me I don't see her appeal as a national candidate.

I can't see what she has ever said to back up his statement. Does not compute.

[CardiacCoug]

I can't see what she has ever said to back up his statement. Does not compute.

I believe it was something about lipstick and a dog or a pig or something.

[Coach McGuirk]

I believe it was something about lipstick and a dog or a pig or something.

that or something about a bridge to somewhere. Which ever it is, thanks, but no thanks.

[Babs]

is the most prominent and articulate voice for conservatism.

Seems like a fairly accurate assessment of the state of conservatism in this country.

[BoylenOver]

that or something about a bridge to somewhere. Which ever it is, thanks, but no thanks.

Well played.

[YOhio]

Seems like a fairly accurate assessment of the state of conservatism in this country.

Pathetic, isn't it? Since January we've had Jindal's address to the nation rebuttal, which turned out to be a bomb. Then the federal budget alternative proposed by the House GOP, which 20 of it's own members voted against. Then the CNBC-inspired tea party which only proved that Republicans can't really protest. Throw on the Cheney blasts and torture debate and the GOP is hurting. The Jeb Bush, Romney, Cantor listening tour seems like another attempt to see what sticks to the wall. The party hasn't had any strong ideas since Reagan, except for those involving Newt Gingrich or AEI-types and they play out pretty poisonous in the long run.

[il Padrino Ute]

Seems like a fairly accurate assessment of the state of conservatism in this country.

This combined with Jeb Bush and Romney thinking that it's time to put away Reagan conservatism is a horrendous turn for the GOP. If these folks really believe this, they are complete morons. Reagan conservatism wins elections. Appeasing the leftists only helps the left.

As Napoleon Dynamite so eloquently put it, "Freaking idiots!"

[Jeff Lebowski]

LOL.

I think Rush is popping pills again. Wow.

[Babs]

As far as actual articulate (though not yet prominent) voices of conservatism, I'd offer Rand Paul, son of everybody's favorite libertarian. Rand is just now breaking into politics, so he's not well known. I'm curious whether he'll find more success on the national scene than his father did. He has his dad's principles without the extremism, and plus he's way nicer to look like.

As far as Palin is concerned: In addition to the fact that she's one of the least articulate individuals I've ever seen in the public sphere, I never did understand how she qualified as a conservative. So Limbaugh's comment puzzles me all the way around.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I can't see what she has ever said to back up his statement. Does not compute.

Perhaps it's because she's so well-read. She reads all of the newspapers. Seriously, while I dislike Katie Couric as an interviewer, this exchange was both revealing and depressing:

COURIC: And when it comes to establishing your world view, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this — to stay informed and to understand the world?

PALIN: I’ve read most of them again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media —

COURIC: But what ones specifically? I’m curious.

PALIN: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.

COURIC: Can you name any of them?

PALIN: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news.


Palin's responses were like those of a beauty contestant runner-up, which I guess she was on more than one occasion. But if this is the best the GOP has to offer, we're in serious trouble.

[il Padrino Ute]

Perhaps it's because she's so well-read. She reads all of the newspapers. Seriously, while I dislike Katie Couric as an interviewer, this exchange was both revealing and depressing:

COURIC: And when it comes to establishing your world view, I was curious, what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this — to stay informed and to understand the world?

PALIN: I’ve read most of them again with a great appreciation for the press, for the media —

COURIC: But what ones specifically? I’m curious.

PALIN: Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years.

COURIC: Can you name any of them?

PALIN: I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news.


Palin's responses were like those of a beauty contestant runner-up, which I guess she was on more than one occasion. But if this is the best the GOP has to offer, we're in serious trouble.

Kind of amusing that Katie Couric, who gets paid to read cue cards for a living was taking Palin to task about something like this.

[LA Ute]

Pathetic, isn't it? Since January we've had Jindal's address to the nation rebuttal, which turned out to be a bomb. Then the federal budget alternative proposed by the House GOP, which 20 of it's own members voted against. Then the CNBC-inspired tea party which only proved that Republicans can't really protest. Throw on the Cheney blasts and torture debate and the GOP is hurting. The Jeb Bush, Romney, Cantor listening tour seems like another attempt to see what sticks to the wall. The party hasn't had any strong ideas since Reagan, except for those involving Newt Gingrich or AEI-types and they play out pretty poisonous in the long run.

OK, here's the test. If you were around in the 70s and thought Reagan was the next big deal for Republicans and conservatism, and now are saying that Palin is going nowwhere, then you have some credibility. Otherwise, you don't. (But I still have high regard for you.)

Seriously, Palin is not my cup of tea, and she was definitely not ready for prime time in 2008. But you cannot write her off the way you are trying to. She has charism and excited the base. She antagonized the left, which is not a sing of weakness. (I still hope she doesn't become the standard-bearer.)

Yes, Jindal blew his big opportunity. He might recover, but I don't think he can communicate, and after GWB the Repubs are not going to go down that road again.

If you think the tea parties were not significant, then you have been watching too much MSNBC. If they were not a big deal, then the Dems would not have been attacking them.

Cheney's demand that the rest of the story came out pretty much changed the debate. I know liberals hate him, but he was right on that issue. Have you heard much lately from Obama or the Dems about any inquiries or prosecutions into the torture issue? Obama is no fool, and I'm betting he won't open that Pandora's box.

But I could be wrong. It's happened before.

[wuapinmon]

I own stock in BPT and XOM.

Sarah Palin is no conservative. Her balanced budgets? Hogwash.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html

Over the opposition of oil companies, Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and Alaska's Legislature last year approved a major increase in taxes on the oil industry — a step that has generated stunning new wealth for the state as oil prices soared.

Alaska collected an estimated $6 billion from the new tax during the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. That helped push the state's total oil revenue — from new and existing taxes, as well as royalties — to more than $10 billion, double the amount received last year.

Some of that new cash will end up in the wallets of Alaska's residents.

Palin's administration last week gained legislative approval for a special $1,200 payment to every Alaskan to help cope with gas prices, which are among the highest in the country.

That check will come on top of the annual dividend of about $2,000 that each resident could receive this year from an oil-wealth savings account.

In the fall primary of 2006, Palin upset Republican incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, whom she criticized for giving too much of a break to the oil industry.

Then last year, Palin introduced a graduated tax pegged to increased oil prices. The state Legislature modified her proposal to increase the state's take even further.

ConocoPhillips said that in total, once royalty payments and other taxes are added in, the state captures about 75 percent of the value of a barrel.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/13/fueled_by_oil_taxes_alaska_spending_soared_under_palin/

With no statewide income or sales tax, Alaska funds about 90 percent of the state budget from royalties and taxes on oil producers.

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/09/12/palin-s-oil-tax-heresy.aspx

The key to Sarah Palin's popularity in Alaska might have something to do with the fact that this Friday, her administration will give every man, woman, and child in Alaska a $3,269 check. What did Palin do to free up this kind of money? She increased the oil tax from a 10 percent gross revenue tax to a 25 percent profits tax. The result was a massive influx of cash to state coffers. BP, for example, saw its state taxes increase by 480 percent.

[wuapinmon]

I forgot to mention that the oilwell taxes were raised twice in two years.