A Changing Picture for the GOP

I don't know about you, but in my view the Republican Party has been having its best week since November of 2004. They are recruiting the candidates they want in Democratic strongholds such as Delaware, Illinois, and Hawaii in House and Senate races. In addition, polls are now showing Republicans ahead in the generic congressional ballot that Rasmussen does, and that voters trust Republicans more on economic issues than the Democrats. In addition, Barack Obama's approval rating is falling quicker than rain during a hurricane, especially in crucial swing states.

Unlike many other rightward leaning Republicans, I am not going to tell you I want Obama to fail, because I want America to prosper. Even with this, it is becoming painfully obvious that the policies Obama and the Democratic Congress are pursuing are not helping our painful economic situation. As the economy continues to falter, and with inflation more than likely down the road, the picture, for the first time, looks bleak for Democrats running anywhere, for any position. I still think the Republican Party is more fractured than it needs to be, and it needs to open its tent a bit wider, but for the first time in a while, the light is at the end of the tunnel.

If the GOP wants to continue this "hot streak", they are going to have continue having strong fund raising, and most importantly, recruiting strong candidates. In addition, they are going to have produce plausible alternatives to Obama policies. I promise you that if Eric Cantor comes out and supports a second stimulus in a public fashion, along with others in the party, the GOP will suffer, and will suffer strongly. They are now beginning to formulate a message, mainly based around fiscal responsibility, that can possibly give them big results in 2010 and 2012.

I know I discussed on the blog that I am looking to setup a feature where you can see the GOP candidates I have been touting and than sign up for their updates and donate to them. Please know that I am still working on it :)!

Thanks,

-Joe

Palin Analysis: Why Sarah?

Now that the "dust has settled" from the resignation of Sarah Palin as the Governor of Alaska, or at least I think, I'll be giving you my full analysis on the long term effects of Governor Palin's resignation.

When Palin first offered her resignation, I was in complete awe. The press conference seemed like it was an impromptu, poorly planned event, and in my earnest opinion, it was. We now know Palin spoke with no notes, and this could have only added a more awkward sense to an already very awkward press conference. As she finished her remarks, I couldn't help but to realize that with the amazing lack of detail in the speech, major questions would arise. They certainly did, as the pundits speculated everything from that she was under investigation to that her marriage was on the rocks. The speech, although very populist in nature, was not smart politics, but I don't think it was a lasting impression on the voter, either way. If Sarah Palin wants to be a presidential contender, and a viable one at that, she is going to have to start making some memorable speeches and moves that appeal to independents and conservative Democrats. As of right now, I feel she has been way too much of a polarizing figure for the conservative movement, when she needs to be a uniting one.

What makes this more of a shame is that at one point, Governor Palin seemed unstoppable. I am talking about before her national news cycle days, but about her days as a first term governor in Alaska with a 90 percent approval rating. She had bipartisan appeal, defied partisan policies, and was the ultimate uniting force in Alaska politics. She had a special gift, in my view, to be able to have approval ratings over 90 percent consistently. Even liberal pundits would agree in Alaska she got more done in 2 years than the previous 3 governors got done. The polarizing, ideological Sarah Palin is not going to sell well to the American people. What would sell and sell very well is the pre-McCain campaign Sarah Palin. That Sarah Palin, who possesses all of the fiery speaking skills, and charisma that she still has, would have the Democratic Party truly losing sleep.

Although Governor Palin's resignation puts her in a bad position to run for President in 2012, she's never been a textbook politician, and you should not expect her to be. She'll have the chance to sell herself on a constant basis to the American people, a chance she would not have had she continued serving as the Governor of Alaska. Her time as Governor is certainly lacking for a presidential candidate, but if Sarah Palin is able to tell the American people about what she accomplished in that short span, with bipartisan support, to all ends of viewpoints here in America, she will go very, very far. The roughest part for Sarah Palin is that this is going to require doing more than GOP fund raising and rallying conservatives, but rallying a nation. Phil Vangelakos, a GOP technology pioneer, put it perfectly on Twitter: Palin is the Michael Jackson of politics: extremely talented, but very bizarre. If Sarah Palin wants to be the President of these United States one day, that is going to have to end.

Video of the Palin Resignation

I give the speech a B+. The political move gets a D- from me. It hurts her for 2012, in my opinion, being that she hasn't built up the record and time that other nominees like Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty will have to sell in 2012. I think if the GOP is in the position to win in 2012, it's going to be because voters want someone with experience. They don't see and will not see Gov. Palin as having it. If she's planning to run for the Senate in 2010, I think she'd be seen as a carpetbagger, and with slipping poll numbers, she would lose to the up and coming Senator Lisa Murkowski.

All in all, a day full of questions. We'll have to see when the dust clears. Until then, we'll be keeping you posted.

-Joe

Governor Palin to Resign!

According to KTUU TV in Anchorage, Governor Sarah Palin will be resigning at the end of the month, handing over power to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.

From KTUU:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office in a few weeks, she said during a news conference at her Wasilla home Friday morning.

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the Governor's Picnic at Pionner Park in Fairbanks on Saturday, July 25, Palin said.

There was no immediate word as to why she will resign, though speculation has been rampant that the former vice presidential candidate is gearing up for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Palin made the announcement flanked by Parnell and most, if not all, of her cabinet.

Parnell ran unsuccessfully against Rep. Don Young in the Republican primary last year.

The stunning announcement by Palin opens the floodgates for the 2010 gubernatorial race. Speculation that Palin might not seek re-election had fueled further conjecture of who might run.

This will surely be making the blog and the Internet active throughout the day. We'll be breaking the news as it comes.

The Senators who you need to call!

Undecided Senators that need to be contacted immediately to prevent the passage of cap and trade!

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) (202) 224-5623
Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) (202) 224-3004
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) (202) 224-2854
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) (202) 224-2523
Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI) (202) 224-5323
Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) (202) 224-6342
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) (202) 224-5824
Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) (202) 224-4843
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) (202) 224-3041
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) (202) 224-6154
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) (202) 224-6551
Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR) (202) 224-2353
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) (202) 224-5344
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) (202) 224-2644