Who? Me?
You know what I think of Karl Rove, and it isn’t pleasant. He doesn’t say anything without some ulterior motive, and he seldom throws air-time away on loose, unfocused talk. He even makes up his own small white-boards for television interviews so he can make his points visually. No, a guy like this never says or does anything without a purpose in mind. Over the last several days, since he made his statements regarding Sarah Palin’s potential official entry into the GOP field, something hasn’t felt right about it. Two things I know about Rove are that he hates to be seen as having been wrong, and what he really hates is to lose. His value to the establishment as a political strategist isn’t based on the accuracy of his political prognostications in public, but instead on his ability to manipulate results by the disinformation he spreads in the media. Often times, the analysis he offers on TV are aimed at some purpose other than that which would seem apparent. Due to this, I’ve begun to wonder what his mention of Sarah Palin is really intended to accomplish. It’s the reason I included a question mark in my coverage of Natalie Nichols’ article from yesterday. I simply don’t trust the guy. There’s always an angle to what he’s doing, and he’s effective. Now, with Dick Morris tweeting that he thinks she’ll announce September 3rd, I can’t help but smell a rat.
I went back to the original article in which I read the account, and I was even able to scare up a portion of the video, and so I took a look at what Rove said, and considered what it might be intended to accomplish, apart from what he seemed to be saying. In my view, here is the critical nugget:
“This is her last chance,” Rove said. “She either gets in or gets out [after the Iowa visit]. I think she gets in.”
Who says it’s her last chance? Why would any of us assume that Governor Palin would choose this moment to begin complying with the narrative of the media’s pet political analysts? It’s not as though any of us actually believe either that Karl Rove wants Sarah Palin to succeed, or that he’s some sort of detached, objective source of political wisdom. What Rove’s statement proposes is a ridiculous premise: It’s then, or never. Why would Rove wish to deliver such a message? He certainly isn’t saying it to help Sarah Palin. I think he wants to paint the picture of a candidate who must get in over Labor Day weekend, or just as well stay home. Could this be because Rove is trying to push her to a premature declaration, or to push us into a false belief based on his dubious assertions?
Why would Rove do that? Rove’s interests lie with some other agenda, but not in advancing a Palin candidacy. What if he could score a substantial knock on her via an expectation game he’s now helped foment among us, knowing that she’s better served to wait a while longer?
Would I enjoy it if she did announce on the 3rd? Sure, since I plan on being there, but then again, I am not so worried about the particular date of her announcement that the lack of one on that day would throw me into a tail-spin of despair or send me scurrying off to some other campaign. I’m a grown-up, and I’ve waited longer for things of much less importance. Truth is, if that’s not the best day for Sarah Palin to announce, in her own judgment, and by her own criteria, I don’t want her to announce just to suit me. I want her to announce on the day she believes will make for the best effect in pursuit of victory. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am prepared to wait until hell freezes over, or she herself tells us otherwise, and if she ultimately decides not to run, I’ll be fine with that too, because I support Sarah Palin, candidate for President or no.
Right now, there’s a lot of “huff and puff” over Rick Perry, and as I mentioned before, this Savior-of-the-Day mentality isn’t something we Palin supporters have ever accepted, so why go with the talking heads’ claims of their prescribed dates and times now? No, I’m not falling for it. If she announces that day, or any other day, I will be equally thrilled at the prospect. There isn’t a time limit on my support, and in truth, my support of Governor Palin isn’t limited to Presidential politics, so I’m not inclined to get too attached to what Karl Rove asserts, one way or the other. I’m done buying the premises such people try to lay out for us, knowing that all too frequently, it’s intended to push us in a direction we would not otherwise knowingly or willingly go.
I’ve said it before, and at some length a month ago today, and I’ll say it this one last time: Leave the strategy to Governor Palin. Why am I supposed to feel hurried anyway? I know who I support, and all the other people already in this race will still be there a month from now even if Governor Palin should decide not to run. While I don’t view that as likely, so what if she did? Two things would remain true even in that case: I would still support her as a tremendous advocate for our values, and I would still be able to decide whether to support (or not support) one of the other numerous candidates. What I won’t do is talk myself into arbitrary, dubious, artificial deadlines for which there is no actual basis in fact, never mind letting Karl Rove talk me into one. That’s just silly. The real deadlines are a good bit later, and for me, my deadline is that day on which Texans go to vote in the primaries, next March. That’s the only deadline I’m worried about, and Karl Rove’s claim of some nonsensical cut-off date is just more typical DC-insider political garbage, and media manipulation. No, I am prepared to wait. Sarah Palin has said it herself: There will be no mistaking her decision on the day she announces it. I expect Iowa on September 3rd to be one thoroughly enriching event, and I am going there to enjoy the fellowship of others like me, and to listen to whatever Governor Palin has to say. I’m not going there expecting to hear an official campaign launch. I’m going there to support her and the Tea Party folks who are hosting the event. She said the time-frame of the end of September should cover the range of dates during which we could expect some sort of announcement. I believe her, and it’s as simple as that. There’s no sense in falling prey to some well-laid Karl Rove narrative.
Amen and Amen.
Indeed, I find the press Rove is getting over his "prediction," ridiculous. First of all, I stated publicly in November 2009 that she would run for President in 2012. Further, I've publicly stated that she would win. Karl "The Architect" Rove says he THINKS she will? Or else? Big whoop.
Word on the street is that the Bush camp is not happy with Perry, therefore they want to steal away his thunder with a Palin launch. Also, they've never been big Palin fans, either, so "forcing her hand" serves a dual purpose.
All the same, I agree with you that I can wait for hell to freeze over. I'd rather watch 14 others spend money battling each other BEFORE she jumps in. Let the field narrow. Still, reading the facebook forums, there are SOME Palin backers getting nervous and impatient. They're falling to the "too late to run" hype.
We must be vigilant. And reassure ALL Palinistas that good things come to those who wait.
Mark, another pro-Palin blogger, Papa Grizzly at RogueWarrior.US *really* wants to attend the "Restoring America" speech as well. However, money is tight and the trip is 1,400 miles for him.
If you would be so kind, please use your influence to nudge a few donations to his travel fund. Thank you so much!
http://www.roguewarrior.us
Rove and Krauthammer are two peas in a pod. They call themselves Conservative but as always the devils in the details. Both men live and breathe an obvious "inside the beltway" viewpoint, they like politicians that are party insiders that know how the game is played. An Ivy League education is also a big perk for these two.
One thing that Karl is good at is coming off as as a regular guy while Charles comes off as an elitist. It takes watching them for a while but Karl is every bit the elitist Charles is. Never found an inside the beltway cocktail party they didn't want to attend.
They will talk in a positive manner of Palin, Perry, Bachmann or Cain but there's always that little jab that they're not electable or up to the job. They just don't like "common people" like the Tea Party playing in "their" sand box.
Even though Charlie Gruschow, co-founder of event host Tea Party of America, is telling FoxNews.com that “all we’re being told is that she’s going to make a major announcement,” Scott Conroy from Real Clear Politics is reporting that “[s]ources close to Palin and event organizers have downplayed that speculation, but the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee is often unpredictable and may face increasing pressure to show her cards to the throngs of supporters who make the trip to south-central Iowa for the highly anticipated event.“
Mark its comments like this that are making folks think shes going to announce Sept 3rd
I know Sabers, and I'm trying to stem the tide of "irrational exuberance…" Started last night with my post on self-discipline.
No, I'm afraid this time Rove is right. It's not about voters. It's about money. Money going into other campaigns is money that won't be there for Palin. The longer she waits the less there is. If she doesnt go in, money starts moving right after Labor Day.
The influence of money in modern campaigns is undeniable. Of course, all of that assumes that a Palin campaign would rely solely on traditional media strategies. It won't.
Whatever Rove and Morris say, it is true that filling for candidacy papers do has a dateline! And it is on Mid October. Sarah already said she would make a decision by summer which ends on September 21.
Rove and Morris are death correct in the timing. I don't care who the person is. If she or he helps in the creation and expectation of Sarah Palin's candidacy and historic entrance in presidential politics, who cares?
Let's stop being so defensive. Palin can defend herself very well.
The actual deadline is in November. Other candidates have entered very late and won.