Bigger Drag on the GOP: Palin or Steele?

by: tremayne

Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:12


Quick question for readers of Open Left: which person, after being introduced to the nation with some fanfare, ended up being a bigger liability to the GOP, Sarah Palin or Michael Steele?

When Palin was introduced as John McCain's running mate there was a honeymoon period that lasted a couple weeks before she opened her mouth without benefit of a script. After the interview with Charlie Gibson her favorability ratings started a quick dive and soon (especially after the Couric interview) her negatives were higher than her positives. Any chance McCain had to win Independent voters was gone.

When Steele was introduced there was similar GOP optimism for awhile. Like Palin, he was a rare non-white-male Republican who they hoped would help the GOP expand its base. Nationally he was just as much of an unknown as Palin was before her selection and many Republicans projected their hopes onto him. Like Palin, however, he seems to have a problem speaking without a script (such as the new revelations here). So much of a distraction as he become that he may be dropped as RNC Chair.

Of course there was also talk of dropping Palin from the ticket. But, as many here pointed out, McCain was is in a no-win situation at that point. Keep her and he would lose the moderates. Dump her and he would lose enthusiasm, turnout and contributions from activist Republicans.

A similar situation faces the GOP now only the sides are reversed. Keep Steele and try for moderates or dump Steele (and go with Katon Dawson) take a lot of bad press and give up, to some degree, on moderates. It's a no-win and it's just as fantastic as the McCain situation was last fall.

Your take?

tremayne :: Bigger Drag on the GOP: Palin or Steele?

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Bigger Drag on the GOP: Palin or Steele? | 15 comments
Palin (4.00 / 1)
Palin ended up being more of a liability because she was actively part of the GOP losing an election. While Palin showed her foolishness in the Couric interviews (and elsewhere) and Steele has been shown to be equal parts fool in public - he isnt going to directly lose an election for them.

So while Steele may end up being in the news longer on pure impact alone Palin takes it between the two.

Palin By A Mile (4.00 / 3)
Palin hit the national consciousness-my 6 year old made "I can see Russia from my house" jokes-Steele is only known among obsessive blog readers and cable TV political show watchers.  
depends..... (4.00 / 4)
on Tina Fey's Michael Steele impression
Palin worse (4.00 / 1)
I think Palin did far worse damage to the GOP brand.  She was so loved by "the base" they couldn't see the damage she was doing alienating independents, conservative democrats, and persuadable republicans.

Steele, as you said, has the exact opposite problem.  He keeps pissing off the base with moderate - and even some liberal - positions.  That is GOOD for the GOP.  The only bad thing for the GOP would be to eliminate him.  It would really re-enforce everything people hate about republicans.  The purge of descent, controll by the fundamentalist wing of Christianity(RIGHT TO LIFE!!!), and the added bonus of a minority being purged from the top.  It's a trifecta of republican hate.

Keeping Steele would showcase a relative moderate in the GOP.  His only problem is that he sounds like an idiot.  If I was in the GOP I would keep him as the RNC head, but limit access to speeches to prevent foot and mouth disease.

However, all that being said, as a progressive I hope that they do get rid of Steele and replace him with that racist dude from south carolina.  Yea-haw and family values!

This is like (4.00 / 2)
asking the Pharaoh: which was worse, the locusts, the pestilence, or the incurable boils?
boils for sure (4.00 / 2)

[ Parent ]
It doesn't matter (4.00 / 1)
The GOP has now lashed itself to the far right hate machine, anything they represent beyond that limited focus is a farce and a fake mask.  The only way for a politician to be accepted by them is total subservience by their values and positions, any deviation is a call for excommunication.  Even Palin had to rush in and basically slap her daughter back into place when she dared to mention that teenage pregnancy sucks and she kind of regretted it.  How f'n dare she have opinion about her own life!!!

So Steele, Palin, McCain, whomever.  It doesn't matter because whatever they say is a farce if it isn't toeing the theocratic line of the God Operatives Party.  GWB was acceptable, he was a weak willed nobody ripe to be filled with any tripe that gave me a sense of belonging in this world.  He was one of them and so it didn't matter what he said, they knew he had their back.  Palin is close, but she is actually a much stronger person - she'll use them but she would discard them 10 mins after getting what she wanted.  Steele is just a fool, as out of touch with his party as he is with American youth, mainstreet,working people, or anyone else he tries to connect with.

Put a fork in em, these people are done.  Push em to the side and get our work done, side of the eye is all they warrant (today).

Palin, definitely (0.00 / 0)
But to what extent is Steele a "moderate"?

Prior to his chairmanship, maybe. But I haven't heard him making many moderate statements as of late. If anything, he's been threatening moderate Republicans. Maybe it's just that no one in the GOP really likes Michael Steele.

It ALMOST Doesn't Matter (0.00 / 0)
just as long as they are consumed with venomous squabbling, the particular players are secondary.  The good thing about Steele is that he's totally out of control. That's a gift that keeps on giving.  

Booting him for someone who got into politics as a segregationist youth would certainly draw some notice for a few days, but things might settle down afterwards.

Neither option really matters much to most voters, so the question is really about the inside game.  And I'm inclined to think that Verailles is just fine with the GOP's segregationist inheretance, so that would be the safest path for them.  

"Senate passes expanded GI bill despite Bush, McCain opposition"

x (0.00 / 0)
no contest, definitely palin.

most americans probably don't even know who steele is let alone follow every ridiculous thing he says.

palin, however, well everyone knew who she was and the vast majority of them hated her. it was almost possible to see mccain being competitive without her, but it became impossible for him to win once she was brought on board.

even if the GOP loses congressional seats in 2010 due to steele's mismanagement, the loss of this past election is a much bigger deal.

Steele's worse for the GOP. (0.00 / 0)
His fail doesn't come bundled with starbursts.
I think it's just hilarious as fuck all (4.00 / 2)
I mean, I've been a liberal Democrat for 24 years.  I had to tell a elderly retired couple in 1994 that the Democrats lost the house and Senate, thier faces went white.

It's a joy to watch the GOP snap wildly and erractically from position to position and celebrity figure to celebrity figure as they try to win over "moderates".  They insist on repackaging thier failed, bullshit conservative ideology which has failed catastrophically. As if it was only implemented incorrectly.  It's just hilarious, I hope it continues for awhile.

Palin (0.00 / 0)
Palin is a drag on the GOP to a plurality of Americans (center-right and leftward).

Steele is a drag on the GOP to the right wing of its party.

Steele (0.00 / 0)
Palin turned off moderates and independents and the damage is already done. Steele's been turning off everyone, and the damages has just begun.

The truth about Saxby Chambliss
The biggest drag (0.00 / 0)
on the Republican Party is the Republican Party.

No one they introduce will do them a damn bit of good until they clean up their act, clear out their "policy agenda," and get a fresh new set of principles.

They suck.

Peace,

Andrew

Bigger Drag on the GOP: Palin or Steele? | 15 comments
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