Is Palin causing a schism in the GOP?

[TonyB06]

I wouldn't say she's causing a schism, but Palin is fighting back in the perception war regarding her role in the campaign.

Going forward, Palin's political relevance will likely be determined by what she does with the intervening 4 years. To many, including a raft of conservative columnists, she comes off as intellectually incurious. Does she build a coalition (on energy? or some other issue). Does she develop intellectual/policy depth on a range of issues? Does she join a think tank and lead opposition and present viable policy alternatives? Does she run for Senate, building a visible national platform?

I don't expect Palin to take an master's degree Harvard, but given her introduction to the American public (i.e. the Gibson, Couric interviews, et al.), I think all but her most partisan supporters would agree she has some image rehabilitation work to do if she wants a national future in politics.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

I wouldn't say she's causing a schism, but Palin is fighting back in the perception war regarding her role in the campaign.

Going forward, Palin's political relevance will likely be determined by what she does with the intervening 4 years. To many, including a raft of conservative columnists, she comes off as intellectually incurious. Does she build a coalition (on energy? or some other issue). Does she develop intellectual/policy depth on a range of issues? Does she join a think tank and lead opposition and present viable policy alternatives? Does she run for Senate, building a visible national platform?

I don't expect Palin to take an master's degree Harvard, but given her introduction to the American public (i.e. the Gibson, Couric interviews, et al.), I think all but her most partisan supporters would agree she has some image rehabilitation work to do if she wants a national future in politics.

Speaking of rehab...she is going to have a lot of rehabbing of her image in Alaska before she goes national again...if this campaign fails I would say watch her approval numbers in Alaska for the remainder of her term before this convo pops back up

[TonyB06]

I have to admit I don't know enough about the climate of Alaska politics to assess the longterm damage this national run may have made. I did see a story about a week or so ago that suggested her state numbers had dipped a bit.

But what is the state of Democratic party strength there? Palin's the leader but is she even the dominant party leader in statehouse politics? Is she term limited?

I'd also guess that Alaskans, like other Americans, tend to rally around their own when they're up on a national stage. Depending how the McCain effort ends (high note, or more intra-campaign acrimony) she might recover some of the "dip" the earlier story says she suffered. ...she might come home "conquering barracuda." who really knows?


...I still can not figure out why "barracuda" was supposed to be an enduring term?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

I have to admit I don't know enough about the climate of Alaska politics to assess the longterm damage this national run may have made. I did see a story about a week or so ago that suggested her state numbers had dipped a bit.

But what is the state of Democratic party strength there? Palin's the titular leader but is she even the dominant party leader in statehouse politics? Is she term limited?

I'd also guess that Alaskans, like other Americans, tend to rally around their own when they're up on a national stage. Depending how the McCain effort ends (high note, or more intra-campaign acrimony) she might recover some of the "dip" the earlier story says she suffered. ...she might come home "conquering barracuda." who really knows?


...I still can not figure out why "barracuda" was supposed to be an enduring term?

Look at it like this...remember she pissed off a lot of GOPers there when she 'cleaned house' of the corruption and then she pissed off the Dems with what she is doing during this run, so no matter how you cut it, there will be some axes ready to grind should she lose and have to return home.

[TonyB06]

Yes, but intra-party fighting and statehouse rangling are a long way from the perceptions of the rank-and-file voters, particularly when you have the type of engaging personality Palin presents.

it'll be interesting to look at her in-state poll approval numbers year-to-date, at the start of this campaign (August) and now.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

Yes, but intra-party fighting and statehouse rangling are a long way from the perceptions of the rank-and-file voters, particularly when you have the type of engaging personality Palin presents.

it'll be interesting to look at her in-state poll approval numbers year-to-date, at the start of this campaign (August) and now.

But as they say...don't let the fine-ness fool you, if people didn't pay attention to Alaska...a lot of people will now.

Matter of fact...peep this article out....go underneath the surface on this one...

http://www.adn.com/ted-stevens/story/570995.html

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

But as they say...don't let the fine-ness fool you, if people didn't pay attention to Alaska...a lot of people will now.

Matter of fact...peep this article out....go underneath the surface on this one...

http://www.adn.com/ted-stevens/story/570995.html

Even this story suggest acrimony between Palin (resign) and the state party (stay so the party can appoint the seat). Clearly, nobody is falling in line and speaking with one, unified voice. It sort of speaks to the point an earlier poster in the thread made about political currents within parties, what factors help which currents emerge.

I just still don't have a sense of how "dominant" a politica figure (if at all) Palin was/is in Alaska.