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| Mark Kirk: How can I get Sarah Palin to like me? |
| 2009-11-05 |
| Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) confirmed Wednesday that he reached out to influential Republican insider Fred Malek and sought his counsel on how to court former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement for his Senate bid. As first reported by the Washington Post, Kirk sent a memo to Malek seeking advice on how to acquire a "quick and decisive" endorsement from Palin urging Republicans to embrace Kirk as the "lead candidate" in Illinois. Kirk acknowledged the authenticity of the memo to POLITICO. The Republican's campaign said that it has sent materials to Palin, though Kirk spokesman Eric Elk downplayed the significance of the move. "The Kirk campaign provided the governor's team a briefing including talking points on Congressman Kirk and the Illinois Senate Race," Elk said. "The memo was like many others regularly prepared for high-profile visitors, pundits and media. The briefing provided details on the race and only requested supportive comments." Malek, in an email, acknowledged receiving the memo, but said he did not advise Kirk on how to land the former governor's endorsement. Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton did not return a request for comment. The endorsement of Palin might serve to insulate the Illinois moderate from criticism on the right that he is not conservative enough. Palin attracted attention recently for offering her imprimatur to Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman in the Nov. 3 New York special election. Palin's endorsement was followed by a flood of other Republican endorsements for Hoffman. Despite Hoffman's loss, Palin applauded the conservative third-party candidate Wednesday on her Facebook page for having the "courage" to run. "The race for New York's 23rd District is not over, just postponed until 2010," Palin wrote. "The real victors in this election are the ordinary men and women who voted for positive change and a return to fiscal sanity. Your voices have been heard." Kirk, a moderate, may also face a third-party challenge from the right, after fellow Republican Eric Wallace made clear in dropping out of contention for the GOP nomination that he may mount a Hoffman-like run. Kirk is also facing opposition on his right flank from several Republican candidates, including Andy Martin, who is best known in state political circles for having filed a lawsuit in Hawaii calling for the release of President Barack Obama's birth certificate. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #10 I really don't care what she's doing, just send us more of her please. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-11-05 13:18 |
| #9 Perhaps Palin isn't running for president. Perhaps she's simply trying to put together a working coalition to stop Cap N Trade, the nomination and the party be damned. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-11-05 13:17 |
| #8 Mark Kirk: How can I get Sarah Palin to like me? Cut off your left half? |
| Posted by: gorb 2009-11-05 12:24 |
| #7 Palin is setting up for 2016 |
| Posted by: M Defarge 2009-11-05 11:49 |
| #6 Kirk simple solution: First: Sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. And stick to it. Be very vocal about fiscal conservatism. Second: Be clear and consistent that you support core principles of smaller government, constitutional federalism, lower taxes and fees, and increased individual liberty. This will mean repudiating past errors such as support for Cap and Trade and other things like that, and an emphasis on liberty and responsibility. Use this a lot and mean it: We do need to change things, but we need to be sure we are making the right changes! Third: Stand clear of ACORN, SEIU and other unions, Planned Parenthood, and other hard left organizations. They will oppose you vehemently no matter what so do not curry favor with them. Do not push social issues but be clear and firm on them when asked and move on quickly. Asked and answered. |
| Posted by: M Defarge 2009-11-05 11:49 |
| #5 What Kirk meant to say is... Illinois will never work! And an entirely prophetic statement it is rapidly becoming. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-11-05 10:27 |
| #4 Mark Kirk about destroyed his career when he made the fateful statement: "The surge will NEVER work". |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-11-05 10:19 |
| #3 Palin has her own problems. She needs to have Conservative GOP support across the entire Party spectrum for her own political bid in 2012. Her viability is about in as good a shape as the GOP in general. And we all know how good a shape the GOP is right now, dont we? Now we DO have the encouragement of Virgina and the other place positions recently. Pelosi's reaction is the best indication that they heard it whether they admit they heard it or not. They heard it... Like the Monty Python Black Knight with no arm "its only a flesh wound". Palin is staking everything on a slow but steady momentum. Well, she's better than Obama...he doesnt have ANY experience, and at least Sarah does. But Sarah faces a lot of GOP ambiguity and some outright resistance. Still, she can blow a Moose's brains out in subzero and gut the thing in the snow. Try it and see if you can. Is she a "lightweight"? Can she handle a campaign and the stresses? Her "team" has to be vetted and it has to be strong. And THEN the American people have to be CONVINCED she is hard enough to lead the United States...and make no mistake...leading is hard...and leading the most powerful Nation on Earth made up of a fickle pragmatic self indulgent and often self centered electorate is like herding cats. Most men are not forthright honest righteous patriots. They are more usually going to scoot on you when the going gets rough. A Leader has to make do with what men really are. And the American people are only momentarily brave and the rest of the time they are going to wave and run. Its no good talking to the American people and expecting them to be anything different from basic Human nature. Human nature is ripe. Palin wants the job. The job is inspiring cowards to think for a moment that they are lions. Palin has to make it easy for the American people to believe in American Values of Freedom and Courage and Decency...when it is SO much easier to believe in tail in the air and blow your bowels like a Democrat. Suck and serve and sashay like a Dhimmi. Doink Values are EASY Values. Sarah has to be prepared to serve the HARD way of doing things, like hold your ground and drag an enemy in where you can grab him by the throat and bite his artery in two and choke him until he's just warm meat. Bush did it in Iraq and if we are going to win our wars there is never a nice way or an easy way to win a war. Wars stink and they hurt like hell for a very good reason. Reagan called a spade a spade and stood up, and that's why we respect his memory. You dont win by compromise, you win by pushing, keep pushing, and then by kicking the bastard when he's down. Palin has a long way to go. But she he can pull the trigger and then skin the beast herself. And she is one of us. Maybe she stands a chance. |
| Posted by: Angleton9 2009-11-05 09:46 |
| #2 Kirk is a conundrum. He is (or was) a Navy Reserve intelligence officer. He supports the WOT and is pushing sanctions on Iran. On the other hand he voted for the cap&trade bill in the House. He's probably the Trunks best hope for gaining the seat, but a 3rd party challenger would definitely push it to the Dums. |
| Posted by: Spot 2009-11-05 08:29 |
| #1 Rep. Kirk is a RINO mostly. Although working with the Illinois GOP Establishment (80% RINOs), it may be just 'survival'. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2009-11-05 08:16 |