Dick Morris went On the Record with Greta Van Susteren Thursday night and the pair discussed the Mitt Romney Presidential kickoff and the Sarah Palin bus tour that stole much of its thunder. In the video below, Morris postulates that Palin upstaging Romney could be a benefit to his campaign rather than the roundhouse kick to the man stones that it appears to be.
Could he be right?
His argument goes something like this. Barack Obama benefited from two things – George W. Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton. They soaked up the bulk of the media’s attention and he was able to coast through largely unscathed. Morris makes the argument that Palin and Obama could be doing the same sort of thing for the Romney camp. She’s reemerged as the focal point for MSM Republican-bashing and President Obama continues to be… well, President Obama. Romney gets to play the role of “front runner” but doesn’t have to face the media scrutiny that typically comes with it.
Could you imagine that? Sarah Palin and Barack Obama helping to get Mitt Romney elected?
Yeah, I thought it sounded a little far-fetched at first too, but think about it. If Gov Palin does not run, she could really be doing the rest of the field a pretty big favor. I’m surprised that the theory hasn’t been floated out there yet by a Palinista – or fifty. It really is the best argument I’ve heard to date to justify the bus tour. Maybe Gov Palin’s just falling on the sword for the rest of the Republican field? If that’s really her angle – and not just one she reveals after this whole thing’s said and done – I think I might have a newfound respect for the little maverick.
Either way, take it for what it’s worth. It is Dick Morris and I can’t seem to remember which side he’s really on. It seems to change with the weather. For all those that think Will, Brooks, and Krauthammer have a hidden agenda regarding Sarah Palin, I am certain you’ll have a field day with this.
Great post. I highly respect Dick Morris and subscribe to his E-mails, he is a brilliant campaign strategist. But, most of the time he’s been wrong with his predictions as opposed to a lot of other pundits. Nevertheless, I feel that he is accurate with his one. I think she is helping, although unintentionally in my opinion. Although, I think it will be even better for Romney, and the Republicans in general, if she does run. If she does not run, I highly doubt that much attention will be focused on her bus tour, other than when she stops to campaign for a candidate. When she campaigns, she actually helps, and you know she won’t be doing that for Romney. If she runs, the nation and the media will be so scared of her that they will do anything to derail her campaign, leaving Romney or another candidate clear from media scrutiny.
I think the most significant thing that Dick Morris mentioned is the split in the Republican party, which we on this side of the Tea Party knew all along, although, I don’t like the idea of establishment vs. the nation nomenclature. Romney is a traditional star, but I feel it is warranted, and those supporting him in the public at large, are not the “establishment” or “elitists.” The battle lines should be drawn based on issues and not on some conspiracy of the establishment trying to silence voters.
~Dmitriy
Thanks again Dmitry for the comment. As to Dick Morris, I think he, and all political “strategists” for that matter have a very narrow window in which to be viewed as “brilliant.” If their candidate or their predictions prove to be correct, they are viewed as geniuses. If they’re wrong, no one knows about them. What Dick Morris has going for him is the same thing Rove has going as well – they were “right” once. Accordingly, they will always have a pulpit.
Like I said in the post, I shrugged his theory off at first glance, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it might have some legs. The only thing that unites the Left and the MSM is their hatred for Sarah Palin. They loathe her like I’ve never seen them loathe anything in my time closely following politics. It seems almost to be a sickness. The only thing even remotely close is/was their hatred of GW. But if that hatred can shift focus and energy away from them getting back to hating all Republicans, I do believe he role in this election could be a positive one – for the field even if not for her.
Certainly agree with your remarks about establishment elitists versus nation divide. I fail to see how continuing to drive the wedge that the MSM and the Left helped plant does anything to benefit our Party. Politics has certainly made stranger bedfellows than two groups of like-minded Republicans. I’m confident that the two will find a way to sort out the differences. After all, primaries such as this are meant to be contested. Two camps have slowly formed, but I am hopeful that they will be joined as one once we select a candidate and are reminded that the only alternative remaining is the guy we currently have in office. That’s not a decision that will take most Republicans that long to make. And if it is, I’m not sure that we’d want them to begin with.
For starters, Dick Morris is about as relevant these days as a pickle in a peanut butter sandwich. Having said that, I agree with him. Romneycare + his forays into Planned Parenthood support/fundraising + his support of the mandate = HELL NO for a lot of voters. We didn’t like him as an option last time and now he’s even less desirable.
“For all those that think Will, Brooks, and Krauthammer have a hidden agenda regarding Sarah Palin, I am certain you’ll have a field day with this.”
It’s not a ‘hidden agenda’ by any means – it is right out in the open.
Like you, it would seem that they don’t like her for their own individual reasons. It may not be a coordinated effort like say, journolist, but the smear tactics are still there.
“For starters, Dick Morris is about as relevant these days as a pickle in a peanut butter sandwich.” – Agreed. I’m quite certain I made that point in this post as well.
“Like you, it would seem that they don’t like her for their own individual reasons. It may not be a coordinated effort like say, journolist, but the smear tactics are still there.” – still not certain how I’m “smearing” Gov Palin anywhere at this site. And “don’t like her” is rather vague. I can’t speak for Will, Brooks, or Krauthammer; but I can say “don’t like her” translate to “she’s not in my top ten Republicans I’d want to be President.” If we’re talking about “like” in the casual sense, I very much like Sarah Palin. She echoes every talking point I spent 365 days of the year trying to justify. What’s not to like about that?