Just when you thought it was safe to get back into politics, dead movements arise carrying pie charts and speaking in homespun analogies about complex fiscal matters.
Rich Lowry of National Review writes “If you watch this video of a man confronting Arlen Specter and his “damn cronies,” what you’re seeing is the return a Ross Perot-style revolt against all of Washington.”
Except this time the Perotistas likely won’t harm Republican electoral chances but actually help them.
Recall that in 1992 Bill Clinton won the presidency with 43% of the vote due to Ross Perot winning about 19%. Whether the Perotistas would’ve have gone for Bush is debatable but I think it’s safe to assume their fiscal responsibility ethos and reformist approach would fit well within the GOP platform (if not in the reality.)
Perot tapped into an anti-Washington anger very well in 1992 hammering home an idea of fiscal sanity especially concerning the deficit. It’s now up to Republicans to do the same. To do so, Republicans will have to fully renounce their former spendthrift ways and embrace a small government ethos which many of them abandoned when in power.
The GOP has paid a price for their broken promises and the country continues to pay a steeper price with the rapid expansion of government. If the GOP fails to tap into this reform minded movement a third party will surely arise that would likely last just long enough to harm the GOP in 2010 and 2012.
The Democrats certainly seem to be on their heels a little bit right now but are still firmly in control of all three branches of government and the media. (If you doubt that they’re in control of the media just check out the weekend news programs which all but ignored the details of Obama’s massive healthcare agenda and focused almost to exclusion on whether the protesters had gone too far.)
The GOP needs to have the Perotistas in their camp. I just hope they don’t bring their pie charts.
But this brings me to my next point. The GOP needs to manage once again marrying the fiscal outrage and reform minded citizens to the social conservative base.
So let’s just say we’re remaking a Ross Perot GOP Model. We’d have to add in a touch of reform minded politician, a tad of fiscal sanity, a dash of outsider-ness, and throw in a strong helping of un-Perot like social conservatism. Hmmmm….sound like anyone?
Remember Sarah Palin who was picked by John McCain because of her reform agenda and taking on the big boys in Alaska and winning. Remember the whole “two Mavericks” mantra? She’s been out front and outspoken against the “immorality” of overspending. And she can speak to the issue as a D.C. outsider which helps greatly in an anti-incumbent mood. And her social conservative ideals would suit the base perfectly.
Come on, couldn’t you just imagine Palin trotting out some of those golden oldie Perot-isms like: “If you see a snake, just kill it – don’t appoint a committee on snakes” or this one: “If we did not have such a thing as an airplane today, we would probably create something the size of NASA to make one. It’s good thing the Wright Brothers didn’t know any better when they made the machine fly.”
The GOP needs a leader. Not just for 2012 but for 2010. Mid-term elections are base fights. You don’t typically get a whole lot of moderates coming out to vote. Palin is very popular among the base. Fundraising has begun for 2010. Palin, you might have read somewhere is unemployed. If Palin bounces about the country raising money for GOP legislators and challengers she could create an awful lot of goodwill in the Party and keep herself in the national spotlight as someone on the side of the people against the government leviathan and transforming the Perotistas into Palinistas making her a force in 2012.
August 11, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I don't know if Palin is a zombie-perot or not; but I do know that the Republican party has become the Party of Shock Jocks. If the future of the Republican Party is shock jocks and the strategy is demagoguery, then we are at an all time low. Don't even bother voting. Obama is an eight year president whether you like it or not. And we'll have another eight years of Democrats as long as the Republicans keep listening to the Sean Hannitys, Rush Limbaughs and Glenn Becks. Most Americans can see through their greedy politics and the votes prove it.
August 11, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I am one of the 19% who voted for Ross Perot way back when. I knew Mr. Perot. I lived in Texas at the time. He was a smart business man and he had some good ideas. He was also right about many things–NAFTA for one. That's why I voted for him. I did not, however, vote for Sarah Palin. They have very few similarities. While Mrs. Palin may be an outside like Mr. Perot, her appeal stops there for me. Ross Perot was President of his class at the Naval Academy. He was a very successful business man. He alone negotiated the rescue of some of his employees that were held hostage in Iran. I know you like Sarah Palin, but I just don't see how she can compete. We don't vote for people just because they have charisma. There has to be some substance. I don't believe Mrs. Palin has that. Personally, I hope I never see her on the political stage again.
August 11, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Anonymous at 4:57 I agree. Sometimes I think people who listen to those shock-jocks (on either side) should be relegated to the "special bus". They don't bring news coverage, they bring propaganda under the guise of news annd opinion.
Catholic Mom, I didn't vote for Perot or Clinton at the time (just underage) but I admired Perot and knew he didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell at winning because while he had money, experience and ideas which most likely would have worked, he did not play the game and have the support of the lobbyists or political machine. The same factors that made him appealing were the ones that prevented him from getting elected.
August 11, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I'm not sure about Palin yet but she could very well be the future of the Republican Party. I admire her pro-life stance and that is THE most important issue to me.
August 11, 2009 at 11:02 pm
You'd really completely destroy the party because it's not made entirely of people you'd invite to brunch?
Then I agree with you that we're at an all time low.
August 11, 2009 at 11:12 pm
William "the Party" is only as good as its adherence to its platform. And the Republican party has veered dangerously away from what we signed up for. I'm not going to vote for "the Party" just to keep some career insiders in Prada shoes. At least the Democrats got EXACTLY who they expected on their side. It must be wonderfully easy not to have faith or morality.
August 11, 2009 at 11:24 pm
So…
Come back, Ross Perot. All is forgiven?
Steven P. Cornett
August 12, 2009 at 12:46 am
Steven, why settle on a has-been? Personally, I'm tired with the "better the devil you know" mentality, which is why I can't understand the fascination with Palin. We CAN do better.
August 12, 2009 at 1:05 am
Let's see. Sarah Palin The Nobody makes a small post on her Facebook page about HCR & 30 seconds later every medial outlet in the world is reporting on it. And today POTUS feels to need to rebuff her saying (lamely), "I am not in favor of death panels."
Oh yeah. She's definately finished politically. Buy a clue people.
August 12, 2009 at 2:38 am
The Democrats have an appetite for abortion and actually do what they say they're going to do….protect their "right" to abortion. On the other hand, the Republicans pay lip service with their demagoguery then do NOTHING to put an end to abortion….does Justice Souter (Bush nominee) ring a bell? How about Sotomayor appointment to a federal court by none other than a Republican. The true colors of the Republican Party are shining and they're not any prettier than that of the Democratic party. I've never seen more passion from right-wing demagogues like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck than when there's talk of raising taxes on the rich….abortion always takes a back seat to low taxes. I wish they had as much passion for pro-life causes as they do for low taxes. I guess money talks while unborn babies remain silent.
August 12, 2009 at 4:16 am
Anony, it would be a lot easier to talk to you if you would sign off with a name. Seriously, nothing real or whatever, just a "-M" or something, so I know I'm responding to the same person.
Anyway, I do see your point and frustration, my point is just getting rid of our "shock jocks" at this moment would leave us with a total of nothing going for us, and while Glenn Beck (the only Conservative dude I listen to regularly) occasionally is off the mark, he still is funnier and more informative than, say, NPR on any day ever.
Still, you are coming from a good place with your criticism, and I ultimately respect that. I'd just ask that you help the Conservative movement find better footing through personal responsibility or supporting concrete alternatives than criticizing those few currently willing to speak up publicly.
In other words, maybe we can do better, but who do you have in mind? And maybe, more on topic, what DID ever happen to Ross Perot?
August 12, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Just putting this out there, but as a pro-life, anti-raising-taxes and anti-increase-in-government-involvement-in-my-life soon to be mom, I really appreciate Palin. She's pro-life and backs up what she has to say with her actual life (hard to pass pro-abortion legislation when doctors would have told you to abort your youngest son). She's for smaller government (actually decreased the Alaskan state government expenditure and got rid of the governor's private jet- what's Pelosi ever done to shrink government?). And she's against the health plan!
Maybe she doesn't have the same intellectual suaveness that we're used to seeing from our politicians, but she's got the guts to call a snake a snake and isn't shy about doing it. As for foriegn policy, well, that's what you hire a secretary of state for. If she's smart (which I think she is), she'll be able to fill in any gaps in her experience by surrounding herself with good people in her cabinet to help her run the White House.
She's not perfect, she's a bit rough around the edges, but because of the things she's said and done during her time as governor and on the campaign trail, I'm willing to give her a shot. She's pro-life (VERY PRO-LIFE) and a smart woman. I'm willing to give that a try.
Besides, which one of us can claim to have run a state, challenged the "way things are" and saved money for the constituents, all while being pregnant, giving birth and nursing. As a pregnant woman, I know the fatigue and emotional roller-coaster one can be on during a pregnancy. Running a state well and running a family at the same time (and all that KNOWING you're about to welcome a special needs child into your home) is simply exhausting to think about. I respect her immensely for it. If she can run a state under those conditions, I think she's got a pretty good chance of running our country as well.
So, even if she's not your dream candidate, her life offers some great reasons to give her your respect.
August 12, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Anonymous @ 9:38
I am in total agreement – I have long wondered what would happen to the pro-life movement if those Conservative talk show giants put the same emphasis on the First Inalienable Right as they put on the next two.
I think it would be absolutely outstanding as well as easy. Has anyone, for instance, ever done a calculation of our economy today if those 50 million murdered contributors to society were actually alive today? Surely that is possible….
Mercy!
Mum26
August 12, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Very well said, Sarah. I'm in total agreement.
August 12, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Sarah Palin was labeled as nuts for suggesting health care reform included "death panels" However, if you read about the top Obama health care advisor who prompted her concerns, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, you will see that her comment may have been dramatic, but it was not "nuts".
August 12, 2009 at 5:46 pm
William @11:16 PM,
I remember Ross making a solemn promise near the end of the very visible part of his national political activity, which was in essence (from memory):
"I promise you Mr. and Mrs. America, I will not quit this effort to help you take your country back as long as I live."
Ross is, besides a super-patriot, an engineer, a problem solver. USWA and the Reform Party didn't quite work. He moved on.
But, he's not one to break a promise. Ever.
CatholicMomof6 @5:24 PM,
I completely understand your support for Perot; I supported him for those same reasons and more.
But I can't understand your feelings about Sarah Palin. She's essentially cut from the same cloth of personal integrity, patriotism and leadership ability.
Except she has the charisma and political instincts to succeed where Ross didn't quite (he may have been ahead of his time, but he laid very essential groundwork).
As for the article itself: well done, Mr. Archbold, for the most part.
Except I would welcome any pie charts Sarah could bring.
Out of his own resources, and using those pie charts, Ross Perot paid for and delivered the best and essentially ONLY education many Americans ever received on the nature and direction of U.S. trade and federal budget deficits. The education needs to be furthered, quite clearly.
August 12, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Correction: "USWA" = UWSA
(United We Stand America)
August 17, 2009 at 10:45 pm
We have to stop using the Liberal's criteria for an acceptable politician. All of those criteria focus on the external qualities of a person – none of which matter at all. On the whole , the qualities of glibness and membership in the ivy league have had more negative than positive effects on American politics. What do I know about Sarah Palin? She is a woman of faith, integrity, and industry. She is loyal to her friends and her base. She would never impose socialized medicine on the USA, nationalize the banking and auto industries, or send goons to intimidate people at voting booths and town hall meetings. She would support our troops, she would defend the unborn, the elderly and the disabled, she would never mock or threaten ordinary citizens who opposed her, she would defend our constitution (remember that?). Frankly , I don't give a damn if she doesn't sound like Peggy Noonan. In fact , thank goodness she doesn't. You will notice that she is a good public speaker, does not need a teleprompter,never says anything that isn't true, never is insulting or rude, nor has she ever made one half of the ridiculous blunders that Obama and Biden made during the campaign and beyond. She is also friendly , attractive and personable. I can see disagreeeing with her politics- I can see it if her personality is grating to you, but quit pretending she can't handle being a leader of the Republican Party because she is already a leader of the Republican Party. She is one of the very few,by the way, who is standing athwart this socialist juggernaut.