This Might Be Sarah Palin's Legacy

Boston Globe argues "GOP Women a rising force in the party."

The Republican Party on almost every level reminds me oftentimes of a Catholic church parish.  All the major offices and leadership are run by men, but the every day nuts and bolts of running the operation are run by women.  Ask any Catholic where their church would be without the women who run the office and schools and CCD programs.

The Republican Party has for a long time been very similar.  With Palin's selection as vice-president last year and her soaring popularity and controversy she has opened the floodgates and broken the glass ceiling in the GOP.  Its not an accident, if you ask me, that just two years after her selection, and nearly four years since she beat two sitting governor's in one election, that women across the country are rising up and taking control of the party. 

There is a historical theory about women in politics.  They make the best outsiders . . . look even back in the early 20th century female political involvement was always in reform.  Early female politicians like Jeannette Rankin were outsiders because their gender made them outsiders.  Sot hey embraced it.  To various degrees that has maintained in the US.  The Democrats have always been conscience of gender and identity politics so they have elected more prominent women.  But you won't find harder working activist than your local Republican Women's Association, and it seems with Palin's emergence more and more female Republicans are willing to run.

It also helps that the mood of the county is perfect for this.  A need for outsiders, for fresh faces to clean up Washington.  That sort of climate bodes well for a female politican who, and this isn't meant to be an insult, can have the appearance of being righteous and more trustworthy. 

According to the article, 140 women have registered this year to run for the US House and Senate alone, and 201 total across the country.  And while some might argue that it "softens" the party's image, many of the prominent females running are much more conservative and principled - like Palin - that many of their male counterparts.  Mary Falin, Sharron Angle, Nikki Haley, and Karen Handel are considered much more conservative but being female has, in a way, insulated them from some of the attacks that many men get. 

So while many argue its the Year of the Women for the GOP, I would argue its the Year of the Conservative Women.

Comments

[rockin and rollin]

And don't forget to mention one of the newest rock stars of the constellation, Kristi Noem of South Dakota. This lady will be Speaker of the House within 4 years. Bye, Bye Boehner.

[You Betcha!]

I understand Sarah Palin's folks are trying to get a photo op with Lady Thatcher in order to increase Palin's foreign policy credibility. But apparently they have not made any contact with David Cameron to try to set up a meeting with him.

One wag familiar with the situation said, "I don't think any of them even knows who Cameron is.".

You gotta love it. And John McCain proposed putting this nitwit one septuagenarian cancer survivor's heartbeat away from the Oval Office!

Geez!

[Dan is Back]

You Bitcha,
Are you Dan, or some other sort of Connolly creepazoid?

[You Betcha!]

Palin was on Fox yesterday saying Obama should have sought the help of the Dutch with the oil spill in the Gulf. Because the Dutch know about dikes and reclaiming land from the sea and stuff. I am not sure what that has to do with stopping an oil leak a mile under the ocean, but it seemed to make sense to her. O'Reilly looked a bit puzzled. I don't think he could figure out what the hell she was talking about either.

I think you are on a fool's errand in trying to discern any meaningful legacy from Palin's brief time on the political stage. She is hardly a serious player. Or one who is likely to have any lasting impact.

The only lasting lesson of Palin is not to get too gimmicky with your Vice Presidential pick. Even if you clearly need to throw a Hail Mary pass to shake things up.

I can't believe that political professionals thought they were going to pick off disgruntled Hillary supporters with Palin simply because she has a uterus. What a monumental miscalculation.