John McCain & Commonsense Conservatism

There is a big kerfuffle in the conservative media and amongst Tea Party activists about Sarah Palin agreeing to stump for John McCain in his Senate re-election bid.

My response is: So What?

Sarah Palin is obviously being loyal to someone who gave her a national voice. I can't fault her willingness to campaign for someone who has stood by her while his own [failed] campaign operatives continue to trash her. He can't be faulted for recognizing the star-power she can bring to his re-election bid. The real question is whether or not it will be enough to help him get re-elected.

Assume for a minute that he loses his primary bid to challenger J.D. Hayworth. Will that reflect badly on Sarah Palin?

I'll answer that question with a question: Did John McCain's loss to Barack Obama affect Sarah Palin's standing with conservative America? An even better question (with the same answer) is this: Will Sarah Palin's assistance in John McCain's Senate re-election campaign stop Tea Party activists from supporting his challenger?

I think there are a couple of things at work here. First, she probably feels very strongly about her loyalty to John McCain. Secondly, his political future may be beholden to her support. Do you think he may have a new "maverick" to emulate? I wouldn't be surprised to see a change in his approach if he is re-elected. After all, his future may be scripted by the intervention of "commonsense" conservatism.

Sarah's Sense of Humor

I was watching a PJTV round-table discussing the prospects for 2010. Inevitably, the subject of Sarah Palin came up and along with that, comparisons to Ronald Reagan. The panel seemed to think that Sarah needed to do a better job with the media. Reagan, they thought, had cut his teeth in media and was much more adept at dealing with it because of his long experience in doing so.

I take exception to that. I don't think it was Ronald Reagan's "vast" experience with media, I think it was his sense of humor. Consider the following:



Sarah Palin needs to convert the chip on her shoulder about the "lamestream" media to one that disarms them. Her appearance at the Washington DC Gridiron dinner and subsequent appearance on the Tonight Show certainly shows that she's capable of just that.

I believe that her hard-fought independence and book tour has "lightened her up". After all, what a tremendous confidence-builder to know that there are millions of people willing to buy your book in spite of the negative media treatment over the last 14 months.

I expect her to have many more favorable appearances in the media going forward. These appearances will do an awful lot to bolster her image and allow her to disarm the negative posturing of the MSM. Expect more comparisons to Reagan. They are her due.

I can see it now: Sarah Palin doing Tina Fey doing Sarah Palin. What do you think THAT would do for SNL's rating?

The Long Knives Are Out

Now that we are nearing the release of Sarah Palin's new book "Going Rogue: An American Life", her detractors are going into overdrive to subvert the contents of her message.

Consider AP as they sensationalize a small except from the book:

FACT CHECK: Palin's book goes rogue on some facts

Consider POLITICO, as they fan the flames of last year:

McCain campaign fires back at Palin

What is telling is the fact that Sarah Palin cannot respond to these ridiculous "reviews". She is contractually obligated to refrain from speaking about the book's contents until its "official" release on Tuesday, November 17th.

Just wait until Sarah Palin's supporters get ahold of the book AFTER its official release. The blogosphere will be awash in counter arguments, overwhelming the ankle-biters on the left. Until then, it looks like the long knives are out. What else did you expect?