The Republicans musn't do a Hague with Jindal

David

"Considering how much the sheen has come off Palin in this campaign"

Now James - you know that, I know that. But the Republicans and their base, as typified by Ms Phillips on this very blog, appear to think she is a star in the making who can connect to all true Americans, and who has been brought down by a nefarious media conspiracy.

I wouldn't bet against them picking her next time. The fools.

Chingford Man

Governor Palin is still very much a star in the making. She recently made an important speech about special needs schooling which touched on vouchers. Didn't get reported on the media, of course.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OGI3NzU1NDRlYWY5OTc4YzhkOTYyMDA5NzI3M2U5NmY=

Write her off at your peril. There is much more to this feminist-conservative than being just McCain's warm-up woman.

Conservative Cabbie

I recently watched a Palin speech in Reno. It was the best political speech I've ever seen. She has an instinctive connection with the people. As at all McCain rallies, she asked veterans to stand and receive their due applause. She then did something I found remarkable. As the crowd applauded, she looked at each veteran individually, pointed at them and mouthed "thankyou" to each one. Those veterans probably now feel a million dollars and are most likely Palin supporters for life.

Palin is in Fred Barnes' words a political savant. She has gone from a mother joining the PTA to potential VP in the space of about 12 years. She is extremely intelligent (although not intellectual), apparently has a photographic memory and an ability to connect.

There are things she needs to overcome, she needs to improve her interview technique alot and she needs to temper some of her views that moderates don't like. For example on abortion, she needs to promote her support for adoption assistance.

If she and McCain don't win the election, she has four years to improve her image so savegely misportrayed by the liberals. This is entirely do-able, she'll return to the mainstream come primary season much better prepared to deal with the MSM, with low expectations which will be easily matched and with a conservative base desperate for her to succeed.

Jindal represents a great future for the GOP but he won't have the star appeal. Palin's populist approach, the financial support she'll get from evangelicals, the pro-life lobby and the NRA will help her significantly in the primary. She'll sweep western states, she'll win Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states to go in the primary and she'll go toe to toe with Jindal in the southern evangelical states. Romney will most likely win in the northeast. Her only problem as I see it in the primaries are the big winner takes all states like Florida, California and Texas. Can't read them.

People like Dave seem to think Palin and her supporters are the dumb ones. 'Fraid not, it's those who fail to see her potential that are the truly ignorant.

THX1138

Cabbie - from inside the straight talk express what they really think of Palin

"a top McCain adviser one-ups the priceless “diva” description, calling her “a whack job.”

She will back in Alaska handing out those socialist $3000 dollar welfare cheques to everyone faster than you can field dress a moose.

This old bird has got her pegged.

http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/bitch-there-i-said-it/

David

Thank you for making my point. As I said, she appeals to a rump on the right of the Republican party. She'll get creamed when having to try to appeal to moderates in a general. But the Republicans will fete her in the primaries, even as she just reinforces their inward looking approach.

See, James?

Craig Strachan

The last face the GOP needs to present is a Southern governor.

Nixon's "Southern strategy" has finally boomeranged spectacularly on the Republicans. In the past, it expanded the GOP coalition by appealing to Dixiecrats with culturally conservative messages. Those messages have grown ever more strident and have now alienated the liberal Republicans of the North East, the Main Street Republicans of the Mid-West, and the libertarians of the West.

Pretty much everybody but the toothless snake handlers who call their grandmas "mom" and their mothers "sis". And they'll never get you to 270 electoral votes.

Bill Smith

I doubt even the GOP is going to nominate a candidate who participates in exorcisms.

Prentia Clove

McCain should have picked Jindal as his VP. The Clinton voters disillusioned by Obama were never going to flock to a woman who is so anti-choice, and Jindal would have taken some of the novelty factor from Obama.

If he runs in 2012 and gains the GOP nomination, that election - Jindal v an incumbant Obama - will be one to remember.

Chingford Man

As always, well said, Conservative Cabbie. I was mightily impressed and also frankly surprised when I watched a complete Mrs Palin rally in Las Vegas on You tube. The folks who are critical of her but still open-minded should track down one of those rallies on the web. She is much much more than the caricature painted by her more deranged critics.

PS I wish the Torygraph would get rid of the likes of Bryony Gordon and Liz Hunt and give the free space to the ever wise Conservative Cabbie.