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Gov. Nikki Haley Was a Great VP Candidate, Until…
… until she gave that divisive speech after Tuesday’s state of the union. Yes, divisive. Who says divisive must be between Republican and Democrat, black and white, poor and rich? It was divisive between establishment loyalists and conservative malcontents. And it was gratuitous.
In 2008, Sen. John McCain — war hero, senator-for-life, and self-appointed Republican strategist — sought to balance his ticket by selecting a governor and hard-core conservative woman as his running mate. It energized the base and the media, though in different ways. It turned out to be a blunder, one of many, that McCain made in his campaign, largely because Sarah Palin was not ready for prime-time and they should have known that.
Haley is a governor, a woman, a somewhat-conservative, and likely to be on the short list for vice-presidential candidates this cycle. But everything changed on Tuesday night. Unlike Palin, Haley is ready for prime time in terms of polish and preparation, but she won’t see it again for a while. Not this cycle anyway.
There are two separate disputes raging between the establishment and the alienated ex-Republicans who feel forced to vote against Democrats each cycle. The first is ideological, and the second is about our approach to strategy and tactics. I contend that this latter dispute is equally intense and important as the ideological debate. And while Haley may be acceptable on the ideology, she’s not with conservatives on strategy and tactics. That matters.
Conservatives are long past the fiction that a Republican candidate has to talk moderate in order to govern conservative. If anything, it’s become the opposite: They tack right in the primaries and govern as moderates and appeasers. In contrast, Democrats, generally talk centrist (wink, wink) and govern as socialists and tribalists.
Republican establishment types have bemoaned this dynamic publicly, to the point where Jeb Bush announced his newfound strategy of “losing the primary to win the general,” thus avoiding the problem of having to pivot on issues when confronted by the media with previous quotes.
Many of us are at our wits end, and near apoplectic at the tendency of our elected officials and candidates to undermine what we see as the winning narrative or — at the very least — a much better one. By conceding the Democrats’ story, our party hands them the argument.
If either Bush, Gov. Chris Christie, or Sen. Marco Rubio get the nomination, he will need to select a running mate who can unify the party and energize the base (good luck with that). Haley has just disqualified herself from that role and, thus, the job.
Published in Politics
Love it. Looking back, picking Palin was the only really good thing McCain did. The first 48 hours after she was announced were easily the high point of the McCain campaign, when Republicans were PUMPED and Democrats were running scared. Obviously she should have been chosen earlier and prepped better, but that’s just one of the many mistakes the GOP made in an election they almost certainly would have lost anyway.
This was an excellent conversation, one of the most timely and incisive I’ve read here in awhile. Then the name Palin popped up.
This always happens. Some words stir so much passion that you can’t utter them (even years later, in a minor context) without waking every zombie in Senoia.
Sarah Palin. George W. Bush. Niagara Falls. (Abbott & Costello routine) Abortion. (Seinfeld scene in Poppy’s restaurant.)
But back on topic, yes! Haley was horrible and Rush nailed her. All we heard from the esteemed Fox panel (of Trump haters) was that she gave a great speech. And she’s no Palin in the presentation department. Does everyone have to whiten their choppers to brilliant incandescence, regardless of their own skin tone? I found her unnatural. She was very presumptuous up there, defining policy prescriptions on behalf of her Party masters. She was too kind to Obama, and plain nasty to Trump and his populist agenda.
Primary Haley in 2018!
Haley’s speech (which was vetted by Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell) was part of a two pronged attack. The other prong was the Spanish language response to the SOTU given by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart from Miami. We should presume that Balart’s text was similarly vetted.
The following translation from Balart’s speech is by the Miami Herald. The bold type emphases are from Sundance’s analysis at Conservative Treehouse, which I slightly modified (see original at link above.)
Note the amnesty pledge in the Spanish language version.
This was a fascinating analysis of the connection between Palin and Haley.
And, I don’t think Lindsey Graham has a family to spend more time with…..
I love the garment rending and cries of “DIVISIVE!!!!” coming from people who spare no effort in demonizing the leadership of the GOP and question the motives of anyone on the right who disagrees with them at every turn.
Too funny.
A couple points:
First, Palin didn’t cost McCain the 2008 election. My recollection was that McCain-Palin led in some polls and were neck-and-neck in others until McCain made the decision to suspend his campaign because of the financial crisis, run to DC, and … contribute nothing. From that point on Obama-Biden led in the polls. Palin got the same treatment every other GOP candidate gets and I’m not sure what could have been done differently to change the outcomes.
Second, I’m getting a little tired of this arbitrary divide of who is and is not “establishment” based on where they stand vis-a-vis Trump and other “outsiders”. I find Trump obnoxious, uninformative, and unhelpful to conservative causes and objectives. I guess that makes me part of the “establishment.” Seriously, we’re going to make Trump’s ramblings our litmus test of who is a true conservative? If some veiled criticism of him is enough to get someone voted off the island, we’re setting ourselves up for failure.
Third, reading the speech, I’m not seeing much in there for the grass roots to be offended by. Most of the speech was contrasting the failures of the Obama Administration with GOP objectives. If the discussion about the loudest or angriest voices offends you, then please also consider the damage that Trump may have already caused to the GOP brand among independent voters that Republicans will need to gain the White House this year regardless of who gets the nod. And with the part where she acknowledges that the GOP has contributed to the problems in this country, let me get this straight: So the “grass roots” is angry with the “establishment” for making a mess of things in DC, and someone pointing that out is a tool of the “establishment” giving the back of their hand to the “grass roots”?
Oh no. You miss the tone, which is forgivable in text, I suppose. I have no problem with divisiveness, it’s the natural state of politics. It’s just that the word/concept is always used as A) it’s bad and should never be employed and B) it’s always, Republicans are divisive (even Nikki Haley when convenient) and we Democrats are unifiers, i.e. Obama’s speech Tuesday) ,; or in this case Trump and Cruz are divisive rabble-rousers and we grown-ups aren’t.. The paradox is essentially, They are divisive, and we’re not!
If Trump were the only candidate the establishment was fighting, this argument would make perfect sense. But he’s not. There is plenty of evidence that there is an establishment, it’s like a hockey puck on a fuzzy TV screen. We can’t actually see it, but it’s there because we need only look at the players and their skating patterns to get a very good sense of where it is at all times (if you know the game). Anyone who insists there must be some secret handshake, or some grand secret meeting as proof, is a reverse conspiracy theorist.
This is not a one off. This comment pretends there is no context.
The Republican Party is already damaged and it will continue to take it on the chin, Trump or no Trump. It really doesn’t matter, you are not going to convince these people. Ever. Democrats control the media and thus the narrative and the only way you can stop them from calling some Republican, any Republican they choose, a racist or xenophobe for not fully enacting Democrat policies is by taking the fight right to them.
If I were writing a speech being vetted by Mitch McConnell and it didn’t come back with a revision or deletion in every paragraph, I’d rewrite it until there was.
Um, Mr. Franco, sir …. one more thing ….
Have you considered that the term ‘conservative malcontents’ is a tad biased and derogatory? I prefer the term ‘happy warriors’. You may use that it in the future. Oh, and one more thing, if the Sarah Palin VP pick was a McClain blunder, why did it enthuse the base and turn his campaign events into true “rallys” from previous moribund gatherings of purple-haired ladies? There are pictures that prove this. And please compare and contrast Sarah Palin’s VP acceptance speech at the convention with this week’s SOTU “rebuttal” (not an appropriate term for what Ms. Haley did), and tell me again who is not ready for prime time?
-Her speech was better-suited for the convention than a rebuttal to Obama’s lies.
-Haley has done just fine as a governor, surely better than the Democrat she beat.
-I do not buy in to the Democrat/RINO portrayal of Palin nor keep that portrayal alive by repeating it. She had a long track record, was a great speaker, and bested Biden in the debate. She has more common sense than most in DC.
-Lindsey Graham has a sister.
-As my rep in the General Assembly, she fought the good ole boys. I am perplexed by her approach to the rebuttal but perhaps her nuance should have been replaced with specifics. She isn’t done….if she takes to the streets to promote conservative values, she will be an asset.
She referred to not following “the angriest voices”.
Interesting how the Trump fans immediately recognized their guy.
BTW, she was also exactly right. Here is Paul Mirengoff discussing the point.
Anger has never been a viable political platform. And Trump particularly, uniquely, combines anger with breathtaking ignorance of basic essential information that well-read citizens know routinely, such as the existence and definition of the nuclear triad.
I finally watched the speech.
Does anyone want to tell me what she said that was not conservative and how it is “driving conservatives from the party”?
She was certainly referencing Trump with her remarks, but I heard we must stop illegal immigration, make sure that legal immigrants are properly vetted, etc. She did say that if someone wants to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions they should not feel unwelcome. Now you may not believe her words, but I didn’t hear anything that was not conservative, and I don’t see how Rush “nailed it”.
Is it now the “conservative” position that if a person was born in a different country that they could never immigrate here? If so, we have to tell Trump’s wife that she “has to go”.
Hmm…A Republican governor who has guts enough to attack the ignoramus, fraudulent conservative Trump. Maybe some conservative talk show hosts could grow a pair and follow her example. Or is a Leftist, crony-capitalist masquerading as a conservative Republican now considered the only hope to save the republic? Some people need to wake up.
There’s nothing wrong with taking the fight to the other side. But can we at least avoid doing ourselves harm in the process? I want to do more than just fight them; I want to beat them. Too much of what of this seems like nothing more than a temper tantrum. Spewing indiscriminate nonsense to see what sticks is as likely to hurt us as help us.
When the focus of your complaint about illegal immigrants are calling Mexicans rapists and thieves, I don’t know how you avoid being called a racist. When your solution to security is to ban all Muslims regardless of citizenship (to which he backed down) and origin, I don’t know how you avoid being called a xenophobe.
This is an election. Quite frankly, I am a little more impressed by the advice of governors who won tough elections on how to win votes than someone who spent a lifetime with sufficient money that he didn’t need to care what anyone else thought and still acts that way.
And when it comes to taking the fight to the other guy, when Trump went after Fiorina, he backed down and was eviscerated. When Trump criticized Cruz’s demeanor and was asked about it while standing next to the guy, he changed his tune. What makes you so sure this guy is actually going to give it to Hillary when they are face-to-face?
I’m not tracking, because this still seems to come down to “If you don’t support my guy, then you’re ‘the establishment’.” Okay, it’s more than Trump; you can throw in Cruz, too. Paul? Carson? Mostly a lot of bomb throwers.
All the other guys get things done with secret handshakes and such?
And let me get this right: We are going to declare war on our team in DC. Kick them in the tail and rub noses in it. And when the true believers win the election, these same villains are expected to support our guy 110% and selfless push his agenda. This is a hell of a way to run a coalition.
Don’t get me wrong on this. I am really ticked off with our leadership in DC starting with Mitch. I don’t understand why we haven’t eliminated the filibuster requirements in the Senate that effectively hands control to Harry Reid. I would very much like to hear from Senators Paul, Cruz, and Rubio why they haven’t pushed for reform of those rules. I want to know why they didn’t vote against those rules when proposed – it’s the primary reason they can’t get anything done. Why are we stuck with Omnibus spending bills? Because the Senate won’t vote on individual bills. I don’t know how a Congressional majority is supposed to take the fight to anyone if a bill can’t even get to the floor for a vote without the opposition’s approval. You want to get rid of secret meetings; then allow public votes.
At the same time, I find the self-proclaimed “outsiders” unpersuasive. People can stomp their feet and raise a cloud of dust, but I don’t see how they accomplished much of anything. Cruz went to the Senate to fight everyone in sight, including his own team. He took a shot at everyone in his path without hesitation, and now we’re supposed to feel bad for him when they give him grief in return? The “establishment” resists government shut downs because they end badly for Republicans. Cruz fought for a government shut down and got it. He persuaded no one outside the party. The shut down ended badly for the party.
Every hour of every day you can find people writing on Ricochet about how dreadful the GOP is. We gave them the majority in the House and the Senate and don’t have a lot of conservative reforms to show for it. Governor Haley makes a speech that in no way endorses Obama’s agenda, but she also says that not every problem is the fault of the Democrats, the Republicans share some blame. By making a very tame observation that Republican performance has not been satisfactory, I’m now supposed to think of Nikki Haley as an undercover Democrat?
Maybe the difference is we’re behind a paywall here and we’re not supposed to let the secret out, that the Republican House and Senate aren’t awesome. But I think Rush Limbaugh (who is also upset with Haley) has a large audience and he’s done plenty of complaining about the lackluster achievements of Republicans the last few years.
Sure. Keep thinking that people weary of the party of why nothing can be done are merely throwing a tantrum. See how that works out.
Trump has made quite discriminate statements that have made him the GOP frontrunner. Success, that is.
Fascinating and typical that you accepted the leftist framing of that issue. Trump made an issue about the never-ending crime wave brought by illegal aliens, which absolutely should be an issue for discussion, but somehow wasn’t, until Trump.
Fascinating. Why should we allow completely unskilled people who have murdered every non-Muslim they can reach and turned their own country into a ruin to come here and get lavish welfare benefits?
Make a case for that, please.
Her only tough election was the GOP primary, which she won with the help of Sarah Palin, who now is favorable to Trump.
I’ll take my chances, especially since Jeb! the anointed gave Hillary a trophy(!)
If you choose to take Trumps words about “Mexicans” out of context along with lefties, you are welcome to, but it shuts down speech for the rest of us and does no good for the cause. Obviously, he did not mean all Mexicans. Everyone knows that. It’s another gotcha trap and it should be ignored, or at least accepted for the problem it is. Mexicans, (not all, mind you) are coming over the border and without regulation (isn’t everything else regulated in this darned country?) includes adding to the existing gringo criminal class.
As to the Muslim moratorium (he said temporary until we figure out what the hell is going on) . I completely agree with him. ISIS has claimed they are planning to embed jihadis in refugee populations. The fact that jihadis are a minority is counterbalanced by the risk that small groups can cause massive damage to citizens here. This is completely different than any other subset of immigrants, ever. If some – even many foreign Muslims are inconvenienced, sorry. If you call that xenophobia, go ahead. Try emigrating to Saudi Arabia and see how you are treated.
Here’s what he said:
“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
You’re saying that is deliberate, thoughtful, not unnecessarily inflammatory, helpful and constructive?
By criticizing Trump, I’m not arguing for that. In fact, no one is arguing for that. No one has to accept that by supporting someone other than Trump.
In fact, that is nonsense. Give me a break. So everyone crossing the border into the US sets upon everyone they come across upon learning that person is a non-Muslim? If true, half the country would be depopulated. Do you see now why this seems like a tantrum to me?
Sure, it clearly looks like Palin got her over the top, but the general was also close at 51-47%. Not a walk away election that. I’m getting a little whiplash with this conversation because on the one hand we complain that Palin cost McCain the 2008 election, but now she’s key to Trump’s future success. How many tough elections or primaries has The Donald won? I guess we will soon find out.
I’m still holding out hope for Carly.
Cindy McCain told him he can’t use the Sedona guest house for more than 10 consecutive days.
Quick, shoehorn a few more insults into that!
Considering how hostile the gop establishment is to Donald Trump I’d say they’ve already shown a pair by refusing to knuckle under to the relentless flailing demands by that establishment to attack him.
Trump looks pretty good compared to all the other leftist crony capitalists masquerading as conservatives or Republicans, so yes, quite possibly.
Absolutely.
What insults? I was being factual.
Haley lost me when she wussed on the flag. If she’ll cave on that, she’ll cave on expensive, freedom-killing things.
It is in Mexico’s interest to send their worst people here, and theyt do among others. This wouldn’t be a problem if we had been enforcing our laws, and GW Bush was equally to blame here. Boy I wish our criminal class would emigrate elsewhere, too. When he says you and you, he’s taking to individual hispanics probably Mexican Americans.
So here, you know the context, and are still promoting the fiction as though he means all Mexicans? You know better and yet you are willing to carry water for leftists because you hate Trump so much? Wow.
And the problem remains that you guys are so worried that what Trump says reflects badly on all Republicans (because lefties are so good at making distinctions themselves, right?) that you are willing to feed anyone who misspeaks, or doesn’t carefully craft his statements so they will pass Thought Police approval, to the media hounds, unable to see that they do this to everybody, one way or the other. This hurts all Republicans.
I’m saying it worked. That matters.
No, you are- and so is essentially every other political figure. Remember, we’ve been told a temporary halt to Muslim
colonizationimmigration just isn’t who we are. So absent Trump this is yet another issue that would not even be under discussion.Palin is irrelevant, and I certainly wouldn’t blame her for McCain. But I don’t buy this idea that Haley is being uber-courageous to attack Trump- or that she’s risking anything, either. I read that she’s term-limited, so she may figure that going after Trump will help any future political career she has.
In retrospect, I can say that Bobby Jindal was my favorite, so I can join you in your misery.
You need some help with your definitions buddy. And your ire is misplaced. Let’s take crony capitalists. No need to hate them. They are a symptom of our system and the over-regulation of our economy and tax system. You do? It’s not going to be very effective trying to get these guys to stop. Who is worthy of disdain are those who allow themselves to be bought by them while they lie to voters. That’s who the culprit is. If the local cop takes bribes, and you get pulled over for speeding and you can’t afford more points and an insurance hike, you aren’t going to give him $50? Good for you, but it’s the cop who is the real problem.
Trump is no leftist. You might be able to argue that he’s a Democrat or was a Democrat, but he’s not a leftist.
Let’s just imagine for a moment that this is 2012 and Romney is looking pretty good in the polls but faces challenges as primary season kicks off. Obama is going to give his re-election State of the Union and set to give the Republican rebuttal is Conservative firebrand Governor Scott Walker. Now let’s also imagine that in this rebuttal Gov. Walker takes a moment to explain that we need to ignore the perfectly coiffed hair that exists in the GOP and focus on getting things done in Washington, and, oh yeah, Obama sort of sucks. Now what do we all think the reaction would be from the folks defending Haley today?
I ask this because we are seeing a recurring theme in the GOP and it is really, really causing a problem. Every time there is someone who says what is right and honest about what is wrong with this country, someone in the GOP–or a chosen red-shirt freshman with a lot of promise–goes out to denounce what was said. It happened to Representative Joe Wilson when he said that Obama was lying about illegal immigrants getting access to Obamacare. It happened to Rand Paul when he raised the issue of drone strikes on Americans. It happened to Ted Cruz when he attempted to go to the mat to prevent funding for Obamacare. It happened to Chris McDaniel when he dared to challenge ol’ Thad Cochrane.
Exactly. Name me a GOP candidate that is not going to be called a racist, sexist, bigoted, homophobe by the Left and the Media when it comes crunch time. Hell Carly would be called a sexist if she won because she is a Republican. In fact her womanhood has already been questioned, just as Palin’s was when she was near the pinnacle of success.