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http://www.theatlanticright.com/2009/04/02/because-palin-sells/
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Posted by Michael van der Galien   |   42 comments

sarah palin for president

Note to non-regulars: this post is sarcastic. Don’t take it serious. It was seemingly a badly executed joke, but a joke nonetheless.I apologize for causing confusion in some quarters.

As most regular readers know, I’m a regular reader Hot Air, the blog founded by nationally syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin. Visiting it today, I could not help but notice something (and I’m sure other regular readers noticed this weeks ago): every single post is accompanied by a photo of Governor Sarah Palin. Even posts that have nothing and I do mean nothing to do with her.

Why is this? Well, easy. Palin sells. Publish photos of the governor, and you’ll see your hits increase significantly. Aside from that, she’s rather obviously a beautiful lady.

Palin sells.

Why is this noteworthy? Because for all the criticism she received, she’s the only Republican able to attract a significant online audience. Her SarahPAC is the number one fundraising machine of the Republican Party. As of this moment, Sarah Palin has the most loyal and passionate following of every (former) Republican governor out there. And yes, that list includes my favorite Governor Mitt Romney.

People connected with her last year, and they continue to sympathize with her and her career. They follow her online, and defend her when they believe she’s unfairly attacked. Not only do they defend her, etc., they also donate millions of dollars to her PAC and to whatever cause she decides to support. This while the Republican Party as a whole has fundraising troubles and was destroyed during last year’s presidential election campaign (without Palin, it would have been even worse).

What does this mean? It means that Republican politicians (and conservative pundits) are wise to treat her with respect. And mere bloggers such as myself have to take her serious, understanding that for all her flaws, Palin is and will remain one of the most influential and popular national politicians.

  1. Posted by greg
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89005 ›
    greg You've got that right. I donate to SarahPAC as often as I can, and as much as I can, with the goal of donating the max $5,000 per year. I've sent back 3 RNC fundraising letters with the annotation that all my donations are going to SarahPAC. I sent an email to Steele yesterday commenting on the decision to disinvite Palin to the House and Senate fundraiser, and replace her with Gingrich. Told him it was disgraceful, and again notified them that my donations go to SarahPAC.
  2. Posted by rushbabe
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89011 ›
    rushbabe SarahPac was the first political donation I've ever made. The majority of politicians are already millionaires, and if they don't feel comfortable using their own money for their campaigns, why should I? Sarah's no millionaire. She scrapes by and seems happy doing it. (Check out the personal budget comparisons to other Alaska officials.) She has a servant's heart. If she were to get the mythical $11 million book deal, I'd still continuing giving to SarahPac because I know evil billionaires on the Dem side are willing to spend anything to take her out, and she's the only hope we've got with the Messiah pretending to be in office. Keep praying for the Little Alaskan General. Prayer is a powerful thing, and with the dark forces against her, it's our most potent weapon.
  3. Posted by section9
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89012 ›
    section9 Palin is both a Governor and a symbol of widespread rejection, not just by the Base, but by the rank and file, of the Washington Party by the grassroots. Of COURSE SarahPAC is making money hand over fist while the RNC is starving for cash. The NRCC just blew a race in NY-20 where they had a 70,000 vote edge in registration and a lead. People are tired of a national party that has no principles, save what they can sell to K-Street, and want a return to Goldwater and Reagan. Sarah's got that, as does Sanford and perhaps Jindal. But it's Sarah who connects. The National GOP doesn't get this. Neither, by the way, does the White House. Neither will prosper at her expense.
  4. Posted by navy
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89017 ›
    navy sarahpac is and will be only pac i will ever donate---sarah is most dynamic politician in the nation
  5. Posted by DB
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89018 ›
    DB Sarah Palin is the best thing to come along for conservatives since Ronald Reagan. She has the honesty, charisma and instinctual conservatism that inspire us all. She is the only GOP candidate who can connect with the base and unite the three branches of the GOP (social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and national security conservatives) as Reagan did. I have never before contributed to a national campaign and am not a wealthy person. However, I donate to SarahPAC often and will contribute the max $5,000 this year (as well as in ensuing years). I will also contribute what I can to her legal defense fund as soon as she sets it up. I will not give to any other political cause, candidate, or PAC. Every discretionary dollar and minute I have will be devoted to getting her elected to the presidency...whether in 2012 or 2016 (or both). There is no way Mitt Romney will win the nomination in 2012. In 2008 the GOP fielded the weakest slate of candidates in my memory and still he couldn't win. He couldn't even beat Huckebee! Think about that. Romney inspires nobody and, if not for his family fortune, we wouldn't even be talking about him. The more that moderates, beltway elites, and RINOs of the GOP disrespect Sarah Palin, the less relevant they will become. It is a joke that the NRSC/NRCC folks couldn't wait until April 20th for Governor Palin to confirm her attendance at their fundraising dinner. Although I have nothing against Newt Gingrich, he will raise a fraction of what Sarah Palin would have. No wonder the national GOP is in such a sorry state.
  6. Posted by Sapwolf
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89023 ›
    Sapwolf I think if the NRSC/NRCC people had been just a little more patient til the 19th, I think Sarah would have been able to confirm. However, there is a decent chance that there may be a Alaskan Special Legislative Session in the summer to address the utilities consolidation, etc. Although Newt will not generate the money of Sarah, I like him too. However, my money goes to SarahPAC, TeamSarah, and her Legal Defense Fund (once created/announced). Because she has a servant's heart, she doesn't have as much money as other politicians. So she really needs my help. Here is the e-mail that I sent to the RNC in reply to the 2nd attempt to get me to complete their online survey: " already completed the survey. My money at this time has been going to SarahPAC. I believe Governor Sarah Palin better understands conservatism and the need for the GOP to rebuild on the Reaganesque themes of fiscal conservatism, limited government, strong defense, low taxation, and freedom of opportunity. I wholeheartedly trust Sarah with my money to later help other candidates and enable her to travel for GOP and other organizations to promote conservative values in America. Sincerely,"
  7. Posted by Traffic Cop Timmy
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89037 ›
    Traffic Cop Timmy Michael I'm confused. You say you are a regular reader of Hot Air and "other regular readers noticed this weeks ago" but posting Sarah pics for every post by Ed Morrissey was for April 1st only. Allahpundit did not participate. If you were a regular reader of Hot Air, you would have known this. So what's the deal?
  8. Posted by Ed Morrissey
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89038 ›
    Ed Morrissey For crying out loud, it was an April Fool's Day joke. And you might have written me a note to ask me about it before posting your assumptions on the blog, Michael. We've known each other for a while.
  9. Posted by Chas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89040 ›
    Chas Calm down Ed. Someone biting this hard and deep makes it an even better joke! Congrats, you pulled off a nice one!
  10. Posted by Greg Toombs
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89042 ›
    Greg Toombs "I’m a regular reader" Not. Or at least not a perceptive one. If you were, you would have gotten the joke.
  11. Posted by Ed Morrissey
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89043 ›
    Ed Morrissey Chas, I'm sure you're correct. However, I don't like it when people impugn my integrity without any evidence. Michael accuses us of doing this for "weeks". Besides the AFD joke, when have we posted a pic of Palin on a thread that didn't have a connection to her? Does he have even one post as evidence? No. You know, it doesn't take much to verify information before making accusations. This is the kind of thing we expect from the Kos Kidz, not conservatives.
  12. Posted by Scott Thomas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89045 ›
    Scott Thomas Is it too much to ask that April Fool's jokes actually be - you know - funny?
  13. Posted by Bob
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89047 ›
    Bob Actually, Hot Air wants to be known as the preferred home of anti-Palin trolls. You can go over there any day of the week and find sexist slurs. Yesterday people were joking about Palin giving oral sex. And the day before people were ridiculing special needs kids.
  14. Michael van der Galien Jesus Christ. One would expect better from Ed, seemingly not though. 1. I'm a regular reader of Hot Air (and he knows it - for I link often to the place) 2. I hadn't read Hot Air yesterday, until someone at Dutch conservative blog Dagelijkse Standaard alerted me to the joke saying "Hot Air publishes a photo of Palin at every post today." 3. I've yet to take on Ed Morrissey in any way, shape or form. Never done so, simply because I respect the man and the work he has done 4. I criticized Palin myself two days ago here at this blog 5. Among other things for shooting herself in the foot 6. I filed this post under "strategic analysis." Notice something when comparing it to the other "strategic analysis" posts? Right, it's not "strategic analysis." So why the hell did I categorize it here? My God. Lighten the fuck up.
  15. Michael van der Galien
    Actually, Hot Air wants to be known as the preferred home of anti-Palin trolls. You can go over there any day of the week and find sexist slurs. Yesterday people were joking about Palin giving oral sex. And the day before people were ridiculing special needs kids.
    Oh that's just great. Now we're attracting the anti-Hot Air / anti-Palin folk.
  16. Posted by Clint
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89050 ›
    Clint @rushbabe Rushbabe, you hit the nail on the head, bravo
  17. Posted by Ed Morrissey
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89051 ›
    Ed Morrissey I'll accept that you meant it as a joke. In your next satire, though, try maligning your own integrity instead of someone else's, or at least have the decency to drop the beneficiary of your humor a note first.
  18. Michael van der Galien Ed: I obviously should have sent you an email, I see that now. I regret not doing that. So for that, I'm sorry. But come on - I am a critic of Palin. On Dagelijkse Standaard (admittedly in Dutch), I even have a daily battle with Joshua Livestro about who's better, Palin or Romney. I'm all Romney, he's 100% Palin. Anyway, as I told Ed in an email: Palin isn't a hero to me. She's influential, I know, but I'm no fan. Neither of her most dedicated groupies who are almost as weird as Ron Paul's. I'm making fun of you - I thought innocently but OK I screwed that one up - of Palin, of Livestro (love ya man), and lastly of her groupies who think she's the second coming of Ronald Reagan (which I don't think she is).
  19. Posted by Ed Morrissey
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89055 ›
    Ed Morrissey OK, I understand. Just don't ask me to "hug it out", and we're cool. ;-)
  20. Posted by Michael Carr
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89056 ›
    Michael Carr It is interesting to listen to and read Governor Palin's comments on, and analysis of, and application, of the "stimulus" package. Tie this to her original legislative initiatives on the gas pipeline and Alaskan fiscal policies and performance. Listen to her SOS speech to the Alaskan house and Senate in January. Then listen to all the comments and speeches on the economy delivered by Obama. It is quite clear to me that she 'gets it' and that he does not. She clearly possesses a deeper insight into economic realities than does yor President and, I suspect, many of his advisors. It is also clear to me that Governor Palin understands that 'to govern is to choose' and that your President does not. I am non-American and have no skin in this game.
  21. Michael van der Galien "OK, I understand. Just don’t ask me to “hug it out”, and we’re cool. ;-)" Well, I need a hug actually. This was the worst sarcastic post in the history of the blogosphere.
  22. Posted by Ed Morrissey
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89058 ›
    Ed Morrissey Well, think of it this way. I'm middle aged. I need to get exercised once in a while.
  23. Michael van der Galien I'm happy to help you out with that I guess. I'll now have to link to all your posts, watch and listen to your internet talk show every day and have others do the same, send you a Valentine's card next year, send you Dutch cookies with chocolate, and donate $1000 to your paypal account to make up for this badly executed f'ing joke.
  24. Posted by Ed Morrissey
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89061 ›
    Ed Morrissey Nah, don't worry about it. Well, except for the $1000. Remember, small unmarked bills are the best.
  25. Posted by Scott Thomas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89062 ›
    Scott Thomas I thought the Hot Air "April Fool's joke" was bad but to now claim that this post was an attempt at humor requires, to borrow from HRC, the willing suspension of disbelief. Look - getting tricked by a lame April Fool's joke does not make you stupid or unhip. Far better to own up to it than make the obviously false claim that you were "in on it" all the time.
  26. Michael van der Galien Scott Thomas: trust me. If I was taken in by it, I would've said so. I don't see how falling for such a joke would be dishonorable as such (although going after Ed in that way wouldn't be acceptable, especially not for a center right blogger such as myself). So if that were the case, done. Whether believing what I'm saying requires "the willing suspension of disbelief" on your part is quite irrelevant to me: those who know me and my posts know I own up to mistakes, read Hot Air, and have a lousy sense of humor. And if you don't trust me? Well, I can't say I care too much about it - in any case, it should be clear that Ed's integrity isn't questioned by anyone. That's what matters to me, not whether you think I am unwilling to admit a mistake, etc. I'm a firm believer in personal responsibility: I caused this problem, I take responsibility. For that I'm sorry. But I am honestly sharing what happened, what I meant. Not as an excuse, but as simple explanation. Now, you can take that at face value, or you can reject it. Either options are fine with me as long as it should be clear that criticism as the one I (sarcastically) worded in the post is unfair, not based in reality, etc.
  27. Posted by DinoD
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89064 ›
    DinoD Ed is super cranky today - he was getting all pissy over at Conservatives for Palin also... http://www.conservatives4palin.com/2009/04/why-i-left-hot-air.html
  28. Posted by Scott Thomas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89065 ›
    Scott Thomas I appreciate that you don't want to question Morrissey's integrity (no fair reader would think you had by the way - if he felt attacked by this post then he must have the thinnest skin imaginable and be an insufferable acquaintance) but, come on, identify a single sentence in the post that approaches satire unless, of course, the point was that Palin doesn't attract a significant online audience that regularly leaps to her defense, doesn't have a loyal and passionate following, is not an effective fund raiser and shouldn't be treated with respect.
  29. Michael van der Galien Scott: well, I'm not as impressed with her as some are. As I wrote in response to her fight with Congressional Republicans, she's bringing herself in a very difficult situation by making them her enemy. I explained that you can't win without them. And online and fundraising: uh, didn't Ron Paul have that as well? And I don't see hits going up significantly after posting something about Palin. Sure, they're more active than others, but it's not like they're causing a major revolution. That's the point: of course you shouldn't underestimate her, but the glorification in some quarters, and "she'll be the 2012 candidate," are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy off base. I think my mistake was that I took a debate at a Dutch site to here - in that context as well included, it would be more obvious. But still yeah, I don't write posts like this in a way that I want people to see through it too easily, but I don't want everybody to take it serious either. I'll leave it at this (again): if I wouldn't have meant it as I explained, but was serious, I would've admitted it. You can do with that what you want. As for Ed: he's a perfectly fine fellow. What happened is, I think, that he felt attacked by two conservative sites at the same day. I think that's why he was more easily pissed than he normally is (he Is from Irish heritage, I believe, so the temper may be in his genes ;)).
  30. Posted by DinoD
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89067 ›
    DinoD Scott, I agree. No reasonable person would have gotten offended by Michael's harmless post. I guess Ed is sensitive on the subject of Palin - it sounds like the site has been busted in the past with some pretty vile comments about her. I don't think Ed has anything to do with it, though - it seems like Allahpundit is the one who encourages that sort of behavior. I don't know why Malkin tolerates it, unless she's not paying attention or tacitly approves of the large number of responses that the trolling causes. I've been getting sick of it myself.
  31. Posted by Scott Thomas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89069 ›
    Scott Thomas I'll leave it alone also and accept that the problem arises from the introduction of the Dutch debate. As Austin Power's dad said, if there's two things I can't stand its (1) people who don't appreciate other cultures and (2) the Dutch. Just kidding.
  32. Michael van der Galien Well, that's an entirely different affair altogether. However, you can't control what people write constantly. You can't police the comment sections 24/7. Not at the big blogs anyways. Additionally, having comment sections in which everyone agrees with everyone, well, that's boring. Of course it shouldn't go over the line but if you've got 1000 comments a post, that's a bit difficult to check. Don't hold bloggers too much responsible for comments. We can (and do) delete such comments here, but we don't have even almost as comments as they do at Hot Air. Keep that in mind. You can't control everything. By the way, Scott: of course she deserves to be respected. She's a national figure. But I'm not into the Hype. That was the point. She has made people more passionate, although it could also be argued that she cost McCain votes among Independents!, but she isn't Ronald Reagan revisited (which isn't what people should be looking for anyway, just an authentic new conservative leader should do), and she's not the automatic candidate for 2012 either. Respect, yes, glorification no.
  33. Michael van der Galien
    I’ll leave it alone also and accept that the problem arises from the introduction of the Dutch debate. As Austin Power’s dad said, if there’s two things I can’t stand its (1) people who don’t appreciate other cultures and (2) the Dutch. Just kidding.
    Yeah me too. I hate us as well right now. Well, me, anyways. ;)
  34. Posted by Scott Thomas
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89072 ›
    Scott Thomas Michael: I'm trying to drop this but I do want to remind you I didn't say whether she should or should not be respected. I've said nothing about her. You did, however, in a post you now say was sarcastic - maybe sacrcasm doesn't translate well.
  35. Posted by DinoD
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89074 ›
    DinoD @Michael van der Galien Yeah, I see your point. I think the problem is not so much isolated offensive comments, but some longstanding trolls that annoy a lot of people, who Allahpundit apparently keeps around on purpose. I dont' think Palin is ideal either, but I'd rather see your type of discussion than "PALIN IS TA STOOOPID11!!1" twenty times per thread. I'm sure that Romney fans would be annoyed if the same people showed up every day for months on end, pasting in the same comments about Mormonism or something equally dumb. Or repeating over and over that Jindal is an exorcist. The same thing has been happening at Hot Air with attacks on Palin's family or whatnot.
  36. Michael van der Galien "I’m sure that Romney fans would be annoyed if the same people showed up every day for months on end, pasting in the same comments about Mormonism or something equally dumb." We had to deal with that actually. But we could deal with it; when we have a thread with 35 comments, like we have now, that's doable. Otherwise, it becomes more difficult. We have been forced, on other subjects, to shut down the comment sections of posts altogether, which is something we would rather not do but we did nonetheless because we couldn't deal with the amount of uncivil, rude, etc. comments left by drive-by readers. But: when you don't want to do that, there's just no way to erase all such comments (and there are good reasons to keep the comment section opened, especially if you're a bigger blog). Of course this doesn't mean known trolls can't be banned, that's something else, and if you've got a complaint about that at any site, it's perfectly fine to express it to the site's owner I'd say. But: don't wage war on such a blog (not saying you are). Lastly, I appreciate your compliment, by the way. That's always nice to hear. We try to do that (it's a main goal of the blog; debate without being impolite, debate arguments, not people, etc.), but it's also made easier since we're not as big as, say, Hot Air (yet). ;)
  37. Posted by c3
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89082 ›
    c3 once again this "dialogue" confirms that Sarah Palin continues to be "radioactive"
  38. Posted by Edinburgh
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89083 ›
    Edinburgh Leaving aside the back and forth between PoliGazette and HotAir, which is a little inside baseball -- I'd like to thank Michael van der Galien for writing a thought-provoking piece. I too noticed all of the Governor Palin pictures at HotAir yesterday, and am amused to learn it was a little joke. But van der Galien looks behind the joke to make an excellent and true observation -- Palin is a major figure in politics who retains a passionate and loyal national base. As a proud Palin supporter myself, I appreciated this point very much.
  39. Posted by c3
    | Quote | Trackback | Link #89084 ›
    c3 Michael; Is it ok to point out the Poligazette has three pictures of Palin on its home page!!
  40. Michael van der Galien "Is it ok to point out the Poligazette has three pictures of Palin on its home page!!" No. Because I hate everybody who publishes photos of Palin. And I also saw that NRO links to us. Great. Thanks guys. How about, uh, linking to in-depth articles published regularly at this place? We'd appreciate that. Especially after calling on our readers to donate to NRO last year.
  41. Pingback | Link #89738 ›
    Sarah Palin Information Blog [...] to acknowledge that when it comes to star power, there really is no competition in the GOP: it’s Palin all the way. (By way of background: Michael and I had a little blog fight over at my new site [...]
  42. Pingback | Link #89741 ›
    Sarah Palin Information Blog [...] April 2nd, 2009 | By: Michael van der Galien | Tags: alaska, Hot Air, Republican Party, Sarah Palin, SarahPAC Leave a comment | Trackback [...]
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