The conventional wisdom on Sarah Palin is that she's a divisive figure, and, from what polls tell us, that's true: according to Pollster.com's average,
38 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of her, while 49.2
percent view her unfavorably. So she's in minus territory--11.2 percent
more Americans view her negatively than positively--which is bad for any politician running for office (if indeed she is).
That's worse than other top-tier 2012 contenders, too, whose favorable/unfavorable splits, according to the same average, are 36.9 / 27.3 for Mitt Romney and 44.6 / 23/9 for Mike Huckabee.
But among Republicans, she does quite well, outperforming her two chief rivals.
According to a new Fox poll--the first major poll on Palin since her book release and media blitz--a full 70 percent of Republicans view her favorably,
while 21 percent view her unfavorably. Huckabee, meanwhile, collects 63
percent favorable vs. 28 percent unfavorable; Romney gets 60 percent
favorable vs. 20 percent unfavorable.
The Fox poll also gives her a better overall favorability picture:
among all 900 registered voters in the sample, 47 percent viewed her
favorably vs. 42 percent unfavorably.
So it's possible the book, the signing tour, and the media blitz have
helped her. (Or it's possible Fox's poll was just particularly friendly
to her).
ABC's polling, conducted before the book release, showed her
at 76 percent favorable among Republicans. CBS, meanwhile, gave her a
52 percent favorable rating among GOPers, with 16 percent unfavorable
and 32 percent undecided--a much larger quotient than in the other
polls, which sometimes indicates that the surveyors didn't press
respondents as hard.
To compare this to the president: at the height of his post-election
popularity, President Obama topped out at 79 percent among all
Americans. Right now, according to Quinnipiac, 87 percent of Democrats
view him favorably.
So while Palin may be a divisive figure to the whole of the American
public, that's not the case among Republicans. Perhaps this will come
to bear in 2012.
So...basically Republicans then are shallow, materialistic, bone heads and will get what they deserve - another Ross Perot figure to assure another victory for the Dems in 2012. Good.
Put Palin's brain in Madelein Albright's face and body (espcially her body) and what do you get? Something so ugly only a mother could only love. All Palin's got is her looks. She is hot, no question about that, but she's as smart as a rock. The only thing I'll pick up with her in it is a Play Boy. Come on, you would too - admit it!
She's about as popular as Obama, and slightly less divisive. Both are in the mid 40s in the reputable polls (i.e. pulling out the NYT and WaPo polls that have been known to use skewed party numbers for many years now). She's really just Obama's mirror image in a sense, both are largely ignorant and inexperienced politician with penchants to say ridiculous and divisive things, and what you think abut them largely says more about you than them. Just like if Palin was ugly, if Obama wasn't an attractive African-American he would be Jimmy Carter, and about as popular.
We all have our biases, but comparing Obama and Palin is like comparing apples and oranges. I can't agree with the word "ignorant" for Obama because I truly don't think he is. (But I'm sure you will have an argument to the contrary...just something other than the infamous "bitter" remark, please.) And he may say some "divisive" things, but only because they go against those who are philosophically different than him: they certainly aren't "ridiculous" in the way that some of the things Palin says are ridiculous. (Of course, if you have philosophical differences with what Obama says, it will always sound divisive and ridiculous. Just like if you are not philosophically conservative, anything that Palin says will sound ridiculous, even if it's based in sound conservative thought.) I agree with you that it shows more about the person on what you think of them rather than on Obama or Palin themselves. Obama is often criticized for being TOO cautious and TOO thoughtful, where no one would accuse Palin of such a thing: Obama has a bias for inaction and over-thinking where Palin has a bias for action and instinct. Also, as with being divisive, it's hard not to be when our country seems to be divided equally on health care reform, Afganistan, gay rights, abortion rights, and other issues. (Not all the issues! Just a lot of them.) As for the "looks" argument, it's possible, but both Obama and Jimmy Carter were popular enough to get elected in a general election, and Palin hasn't crossed that threshold...time will tell if Palin can be that popular and if Obama is a one-termer.
I wouldn't say that they are mirror images of each other. Obama goes out of his way to conciliatory to the opposition (and cannot be called ignorant by any stretch of the imagination) and Palin has an incredibly thin skin. What they both share is that their followers effectively project a great deal on to them. Just we are clear - Obama was elected President of the US. Palin quit in her first term as governor. Not exactly mirror images.
BSD
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I would vote for Palin in a heatbeat over that worthless windbag we have in the white house thats driving this country to a socialist welfare state, while the socialist welfare states in europe are all going to the right and conservative.. fact!! conservatives in France, Demnark, Germany, UK and Netherlands.. and moving right.. but I love listening to the critics cause they really cant find much she did bad when govennor, so they attach her looks, her kids, her beleifs.. but at least she has a core.. you know what she would do before she does it cause she lives what she preaches..obama says what ever you want him to say.. pull his string and you know he will talk for an hour.. then move on and talk more.. but the question is, WHEN WILL HE LEAD???
Your understanding of European politics is dim and shallow- which might explain why you extoll the virtues of the empty-headed Palinbot. Yes, many European states are seeing a shift to the right, but the typical European center-right party would still be considered liberal here in the states. None of theses rightist parties in Britian, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, etc. is proposing dismantiling their "socialist" systems. In fact, the Conservatives in Britian are running on fixing the NHS, not eliminating it. David Cameron has embraced the British national healthcare system and promised voters that Conservatives will address problems that Labour failed to remedy.
It is sad that your estimation of a politicain is based on "action". Never mind whether the idea is good or not, as long as a politician is doing something they are bold and decisive. We had eight years of "bold and decisive" leadership and we are now engaged in two fruitless wars and 5 trillion dollars deeper in the hole. This is the vision of governance that Palin represents; action based on ignorance.
Dear "zapperz,"
I'm not a Palin fan, but I do follow her with some interest and concern. Contrary to your claim, I can honestly say that I've never observed/witnessed ANYONE "attack" Palin based on her looks. Could you please provide some proof of this allegation? I believe it is 100% baseless. I have heard nothing but compliments/praise for Palin's appearance (e.g., "she's hot!" and "the hottest governor from the coldest state," etc.).
Also, I voted for Barack Obama and believe me: he absolutely DOES NOT "say what ever [sic] [I] want him to say." President Obama was elected a little over one year ago, and has been in the Oval Office exactly 10 months as of today. Let's wait until at least his 3rd or 4th year before judging his presidency as "worthless."
Finally, you claim that this country is being "driven . . . to a socialist welfare state." Please provide examples of "socialist welfare states" in which you have lived and/or extensively traveled -- that's quite an allegation, my friend.
First post
"Put Palin's brain in Madelein Albright's face and body (espcially her body) and what do you get? Something so ugly only a mother could only love. All Palin's got is her looks. She is hot, no question about that, but she's as smart as a rock. The only thing I'll pick up with her in it is a Play Boy. Come on, you would too - admit it!"
Nuff said
Again, how is this an "attack" on her looks? This is a criticism of her INTELLECT. Is this really so difficult?
When looks are the focus it is sexism.
You are confusing sexism with lookism. Sarah Palin has not, as far as I have heard or read about her, been criticized for her looks.
My previous comment was directed at "jb" and not "berliner in sf".
I hope that we do go to a socialist welfare state. What the hell is wrong with that! Just look at the Scandinavian Countries - Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland. They have an incredibly high standard of living with the lowest disparity between the rich and poor. In fact there really aren't any really poor people like the hordes we have here - 50 million without health car and the same finding it hard to put food on the table. China is wiping our assess because our filthy rich CEOs who earn obscene amounts of money are offshoring all the labor so now there aren't any jobs. This isn't a recession we're in, it's a new reality. We have to start to really question if our system is the best of all possible worlds. In Scandinavia the University Education is FREE. Yea, FREE! Universal Health - not an issue, they all have it. It's time for you bone head, red neck, born again christ worshipers to question you're "core" beliefs.
Oh yea, in Scandinavia, they have the polar opposite in terms of believing in fairy tale diety stories. 90% are atheist so they realize they only have each other to rely on - not some magic super man in the cosmos to free them from their worries.
You are welcome to emigrate there any time you want....
Frankly my ancestors came here for the exact opposite reason....they wanted their families to have the opportunity to succeed. And from poor subsistence farmers that line has produced judges, attorneys, college professors, business owners, etc. I think they have realized the American dream...something they may not have been able to do in a socialist coutnry.
As to all of those things being FREE. Nothing is FREE. It has to be paid for somehow. It is called TAXES. Norway's national caps out at 47%, Sweden's at 59%, Denmark at 63% and Finland has a 32% National plus a 21% local tax. Imagine that 63% of every dollar you make goes to pay for that which is FREE! Doesn't sound very FREE to me!
FYI: I have extended family in Germany and Holland who are VERY successful and enjoy a quality of life much better than some of my cousins here in the U.S. Where do you get the idea that somehow people are DENIED the opportunity to succeed in the countries which you reference? It is simply not true.
Gee, did I mention Germany and Holland. And did seanpcooper mention those two countries. No.
But I have spent a lot of time in those countries as well...and some people live very well....and some don't. There are more opportunities in this country than any other country in the world...to both succeed and fail.
From P. J. O'Rourke's Eat the Rich:
Oh and I forgot about the 25% VAT tax in most of those countries.
I agree, American was indeed a great country at one point but I think it is healthy now and then to question ourselves and look at the stark realities of where we are now. Perhaps our beloved Democracy isn't all that it's made up to be any longer.
Hell, China might have an even better system than us or the Swedes!
when I said "FREE" I didn't really mean FREE FREE; just free.
good points - all, but you will might find this interesting:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/aug/05/scandinavia-recession-welfare-state
cheers!
She’s an embarrassment. Seriously. I know people see her as a strong woman who has had to deal with hardships, but all the strong women that I know care deeply about their families, so deep as to not **** them, and their troubles out to make a quick buck or even win an election. I for one think she should have named her book “Going Rouge” (I didn’t think of this myself I just saw these shirts at http://www.notnotrelevant.com just giving credit where it’s due).
As a woman, as an American, and as a human I would just hope more people would learn to be the strong silent type and stop spreading hate and lies. Even if it is in a pretty package.
To "jb,"
Then call it "sexism" the first time around. When you claim that Palin is being "attacked for her looks," you're being disingenous and pulling the typical Palin-as-victim card. I have never seen a political figure use so many excuses and engage in so much whining - but that does seem to be prevalent among her fans, too.
By the way: I named Germany and Holland as specific examples where I have immediate family members. I used to live in Germany, and have traveled throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. I am well aware of the various European social democracies and how they function.
Vell, regardless of how divisive Palin may be at present, if she wants a political future, she needs to expand what is now too niche of a market. John Tantillo (actually a Palin fan, I think--at least he defended her decision to resign as governor-- ) pointed out that
">by dissecting the past campaign, looking backward, she gives up what was one of her key assets that gave her any popularity at all to begin with-- "forward motion."
I watched her interview on Bill O'Reilly, and even though it was less entertaining than watching her fumble through Katie Couric, I thought it was actually interesting to hear her speak in a context where she wasn't being battered/pressured/tripped up. Not that she wowed me, but at least I thought it gave me a better sense for who she was/how she could come across (with people who like her and aren't trying to challenge her).
2012 Presidential Voting Results as of Nov 20, 2009:
1st place - Huckabee 79%
2nd place - Romney 9%
3rd place - Palin 8%
4th place - Gingrich 1%
5th place - Jindal 1%
Cast your vote at the Fan Club today.
Ten Great Mike Huckabee websites:
1. MikeHuckabee
2. HuckabeeFanClub
3. HuckPAC
4. FoxNews/Huckabee
5. Radio Huckabee
6. Facebook/MikeHuckabee
7. HucksArmy
8. Twitter/GovMikeHuckabee
9. BalanceCutSave
10. HuckabeeDVD
The results actually show when you look at it carefully that Mike Huckabee is positioned the best to pull in more votes from the Democrats and Independants and when it comes to the Presidential general elections that is what really counts the most. The Republican base will be united with him no matter what in the general elections, so the key is to pull in more votes from the opposing parties.
Mike Huckabee is positioned extremelly well to win the 2012 Presidential Nomination.