I’ve got something to get off of my chest, Save Jerseyans: I’m tired of exhausted by the current state of affairs in the Republican Party.
The reason for my fatigue? Career politicians like Sarah Palin who are trying to drive our GOP over a proverbial electoral cliff. This screeching populist has made a handsome living since 2008 by selling cookiecutter “liberals suck” books and trashing “RINOs.”
Her new favorite whipping boy is Chris Christie; here’s what she said about him last night:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6MosbvDJ-s
Here’s the text of her anti-Christie comments in case you, like me, instinctively slip into a protective coma whenever you hear her Peggy Hill voice on the evening news:
Poor Chris. This was a rookie mistake. He played right into the media’s hands. The host had asked Chris, ‘Does Newt embarrass the party?’ I think he asked him twice, and there, Chris played right into it.
“You know, sometimes, if your candidate loses in just one step along this path, as was the case when Romney lost to Newt the other night — and, of course, Romney is Chris Christie’s guy — well, you kind of get your panties in a wad, and you may say things that you regret later. And I think that that’s what Chris Christie did.”
Very “deep” criticism, huh?
You’ll note that I called Sarah Palin a “career politician.” Some may object to this term as applied to her; she served little more than two years in Alaska before quitting to drive custom tour buses around the country and subject her fragile family to the glaring lens of our voyeuristic culture. But that’s exacly my point, Save Jerseyans:
Sarah Palin IS the epitome of this country’s political establishment!
Keep in mind that, despite what you may hear on Fox News, our national party isn’t run by wealthy Rockefeller Northeastern fiscal conservatives like Mitt Romney or Chris Christie (Newt was actually the Rockefeller Republican). Sure, the RNC gets most of its money from ‘blue” places like New Jersey and New York. But that’s not where the power resides. Au contraire! Ever since Nixon successfully implemented his “Southern Strategy,” the GOP’s power center has consistently moved further and further below the Mason Dixon line.
The vanquished Republican Party of January 2009 was Southern, evangelical, populist and very socially conservative. Like Palin, just half a continent away. And that’s fine! Social conservatism and fiscal conservatism aren’t at odds. I’ve always believed that. But our appeal began narrow as our approach to governing became more myopic. Social issues supplanted fiscal conservatism as the party’s primary post-Reagan emphasis. Our majority contracted and turned into a minority as a result. The party had forgotten why people sent Republicans to Washington in the first place.
Things began to change just 10 short months later. In November 2009, we elected a new class of leaders like Chris Christie outside of the Bible Belt. The Christie Class could articulate our core conservative message to a broader audience of the kind necessary to rebuild a national majority and retake the White House. It was an exciting time to be a Republican.
And what have these new leaders earned for their trouble? Ridicule from the likes of Santorum, and Gingrich, and Palin, and a host of other folks in and around the new media who, despite their many individual talents and wonderful qualities, are 100% financially indebted to their political careers. At least Ron Paul is a medical professional! What is Palin qualified to do besides preach and demagogue?
Chris Christie and Mitt Romney are intelligent, successful, and consequently taking a major paycut to serve the public. “RINO” hunters like Palin and Gingrich wouldn’t survive a day in a major law firm, financial organization or private corporation! They need to continually run for office, sell books and say outlandish things on cable news shows to keep their lights on.
I instinctively distrust them for it. If we’re going to hold out the Founding Fathers as our ultimate standard for candidates, then gentlemen like Romney and Christie are clearly a much closer fit to that mold than Sarah Palin! No contest. The Founders were independently successful Americans who left their estates, businesses and farms to sacrifice for the country. They were the original venture capitalists! They would’ve loved Bain Capital and loathed professional activists of the Palin/O’Donnell variety.
That’s my gut and mind speaking in unison, unlike many of Palin and Gingrich’s respective backers reflexively distrust Mitt Romney because he’s a yankee. And a Mormon. And not “one of us” because he’s filthy stinking rich.
Or because a popular radio personality or “conservative” activism group told me so. You know – the real establishment.
Well said, Matt. When articulated clearly, the message of lower government spending, less taxes & regulation, etc. is one with broad appeal. As for the social issues, so many so-called and/or self-proclaimed conservatives cannot speak with much authority because they are hypocritical in their practice of them, and called on it by an all-too-eager secular media. Better for the GOP to build a strong appeal on the economic issues, and lead by the example when it comes to the social ones.
Big surprise Rooney sides with Wall Street Republicans.
"…and lead by the example when it comes to the social ones."
Amen, Paul! Everyone makes mistakes (myself included). At the same time, I don't understand how Romney critics can hold 20-year old positions against him as a moral objection while simultaneously absolving Newt? It doesn't add up.
Be gone, wignut! Return to your parent's basement and trouble us no more!
What I find hilarious about all the Newt-love in the Tea Party right now is that he literally supported every single Bush 44 initiative that the Tea Party claims to have hated. He's no more conservative than Romney.
I also read that he backed Rockefeller over Goldwater in '64???
You make some good points. I think it's a battle of 2 GOP "establishments". One the Dole/Ford/McCain the other Palin/Newt/talk radio and conservative online media…
You don't like Mitt Romney so you're going to sit home and let Democrats cotuinne to run Trenton?I'm not following you. Make me understand!