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Still Waiting for Sarah

By on 8.22.11 @ 6:09AM

Is Palin finally ready to announce a White House run?


Peter Singleton and Michelle McCormick sat across the table from me at a Bennigan’s restaurant near the Des Moines airport, talking about their organizing efforts for Sarah Palin in Iowa and repeatedly referring to what would happen “when” the former Alaska governor declared her 2012 presidential candidacy. “If you want to get things going and be proactive, you’ve got to go where the starting shots are, and that’s Iowa,” McCormick said, while R&B oldies blared through the Muzak speakers and we waited for the waitress to bring our sandwiches. Singleton explained that they had no official affiliation with Palin’s political action committee and no communication with her staff. “We don’t ask them what they’re doing and they don’t tell.… We’re totally grassroots, all volunteers.”

It was Tuesday, August 9, four days before the Ames Straw Poll and two days before a nationally televised debate between eight Republican candidates, yet here were Singleton and McCormick talking about Palin, who was not one of those candidates and who, according to everyone who knows anything about presidential politics, had no intention of joining the2012 Republican primary field. “She’d be crazy to do it,” one of America’s most experienced political journalists had told me a month earlier, when I’d raised the possibility of Palin running. “She’s making big money with Fox. If she got in and lost to [Minnesota Rep. Michele] Bachmann, she’d be humiliated. No way.”

That was still the conventional wisdom on the Tuesday before the Iowa straw poll. All the respected experts were agreed, and yet there I was in Des Moines sitting at a restaurant table with the volunteer leaders of Iowa for Palin, who kept talking about “when” she would enter the race. This annoyed me. These two enthusiasts had left their homes — Singleton in California, McCormick in Texas — and moved to Iowa to volunteer as organizers for a non-existent campaign, on behalf of a make-believe candidate who kept saying she was “considering” a bid for the White House but who apparently had taken no concrete steps toward putting together a real campaign. By the time my two-hour conversation with Singleton and McCormick ended, I was convinced that they were hopeless dupes who had succumbed to the delusions of political True Believers. And the very next day, Sarah Palin announced she was coming to Iowa.

Palin’s visit to Des Moines was no sooner announced than it was dismissed by all the reputable pundits as a publicity stunt, a made-for-TV gesture intended strictly to “build her brand” and maintain her image as “relevant” to the political process as a Fox News commentator. With Texas Gov. Rick Perry set to enter the 2012 campaign later that week, the conventional wisdom said, there simply wasn’t room in the field for Palin and, after all, hadn’t she endorsed Perry in his 2010 GOP primary fight against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison? Hadn’t Palin praised Perry as a candidate she could support for 2012? Wasn’t Perry often described as a “Palin ally”?

So said the wise men, the political wizards who get paid to analyze these things, but I was too busy covering the actual candidates — the ones who were, in fact, running for president — to give much thought to Palin, even if all those “whens” uttered by Singleton and McCormick were still stuck somewhere in my subconscious. GOP front-runner Mitt Romney made a rare Iowa visit the same Wednesday afternoon that Palin announced she was coming to town. Thursday was the big debate billed as the decisive showdown between Bachmann and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Friday, several of the candidates were scheduled to speak at the Iowa State Fair. It was at the fairgrounds, after I’d heard Herman Cain’s stump speech and watched Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz get heckled off stage by a disgruntled leftist, that I encountered a swarming crowd of people surrounding Sarah Palin.

Mildly annoyed again — I wasn’t there to cover a make-believe candidate whose name wasn’t going to be on the straw poll ballot Saturday at Ames — I elbowed my way into the scrum, holding aloft my cheap digital camera to snap a few photos and shoot a 49-second video clip of the throng around Palin. Let the reader imagine how my annoyance was intensified when I spotted a familiar face standing behind the non-candidate: Peter Singleton, smiling and giving me a thumbs-up gesture. At the time, I didn’t notice Michelle McCormick at Palin’s left elbow, but both of the Iowa for Palin organizers were part of the informal security detail escorting Palin around the fairgrounds as she signed autographs and posed for photos with her legions of admiring fans.

That was probably the moment when my annoyance turned to outright anger at the whole ridiculous spectacle, because here I was being sucked into the vortex of what for all the world looked like a cheap stunt, a reality-TV simulacrum of a presidential campaign. However, no one can express skepticism about Palin’s presidential ambitions without being targeted for the venomous attacks that the True Believers reflexively unleash on the Beltway elitists of the “lamestream media,” a category large enough to encompass everyone except Sean Hannity, Greta van Susteren and the other Fox News colleagues who enjoy exclusive access to their network’s star political commentator. It does no good to point out to the True Believers that I traveled to Ohio in September 2008 to proclaim Palin the “Sweetheart of the Heartland,” or stood in the bitter cold of a Pennsylvania evening among those who were “Stickin’ With the Hockey Mom.” No prior service to the Palinite cause — not my knocking down that silly divorce rumor in 2009, not my mocking of her media critics, nor even my visit with Todd Palin at his family’s Wasilla home last fall — can assuage the fury of the True Believers. She’s gonna run, they insist, and anyone who says otherwise is a hated enemy.

So I knew full well what I was getting myself into last week when I finally blew my top and excoriated the True Believers, dismissing their talk of a Palin 2012 campaign as “the naive babblings of chumps who’ve been bamboozled by a show-biz publicity stunt.” That was the same day a firestorm erupted over Quin Hillyer’s piece accusing Palin of acting like a “difficult diva” in a dispute with Daily Caller reporter Alex Pappas. Amid that “contretemps” (to borrow Quin’s description), I noticed something that everyone else seemed to be ignoring: Why should Sarah Palin be so concerned about a headline that mistakenly implied she had endorsed Mitt Romney? If she was just running a make-believe campaign to boost her ratings at Fox, couldn’t she have just shrugged it off? Was it possible that her phone call to Pappas signified that her prospective candidacy was more serious than any of the political wizards believed?

However faint a clue this was, there were many other clues that quickly appeared shortly after I declared my own final certainty that Palin was not running. There was, for example, a sort of “radio silence” from the tight circle of Palin’s staffers. And there was the looming date of September 3, when Palin was scheduled as keynote speaker at a Tea Party rally in Iowa. (Originally planned for Waukee, the site was shifted to Indianola to accommodate a larger crowd.) Hadn’t Palin previously said she was looking at September as the fish-or-cut-bait month for her to decide on a campaign? What could be a more perfect occasion than an Iowa speech to a massive heartland throng — a “Tea Party Woodstock,” someone has called it — the Saturday before Labor Day? She would own the news cycle all weekend, instantly becoming the Number One topic on all the Sunday shows, and her entry into the 2012 field would overshadow the September 7 debate at the Reagan Library in exactly the same way that Perry’s entry had overshadowed the Ames straw poll.

By Tuesday evening, then, I was half-convinced that Palin was stealthily moving toward an announcement. Then on Friday, she released a two-minute online video about her Iowa trip that everyone — even the wizards who had previously been certain she wasn’t running — agreed looked like an honest-to-goodness campaign ad. The signals seemed clear enough that Karl Rove (who is clearly no Palin fanboy) declared she now “looks like a candidate, not a celebrity” and expressed his belief that Palin will get into the race. But if a certified Beltway elitist like Rove is now convinced she’s running, wouldn’t Palin be obliged to prove him wrong by not running? So I called up McCormick to ask if she believed that an announcement was in the works for the September 3 “Restoring America” rally, and the Iowa for Palin volunteer wasn’t sure. “People think if [Palin’s speech] doesn’t say, ‘Hi, I’m Sarah Palin, I’m running for president,’ it will be not a good deal. But I really think she’s going to give a monster speech.”

The only two people who really know what Palin is planning, McCormick said, are Sarah and Todd. The rest of us will just have to wait until she announces. But her Iowa organizers are still convinced Palin is getting in — a matter of “when,” not “if,” they say. Others may doubt, but the True Believers still believe.

About the Author

Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (219) |

ReaganTMan| 8.21.11 @ 11:37PM

We believe, Stacy. We get antsy and we sometimes get pissed off that she won't announce in our time frame, but we believe.

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 7:30AM

She certainly has a lot of support. She is about the only one out there that comes close to the excitment that Ron Paul generates. But why would she want to put her large family through all those months of abuse? I thinkin the end she will endorse someone else. She could endorse eitherPerry or Romney as she did the old hack Mc Cain. it would serve her better in her media creer. I hope that she does like what she did, when she stuck her fingers in the eyes of the establishment an endorsed Rand Paul of Kentucy for Senator. He husband Todd has a long history of supporting Alaskan secession. They both have libertarian beliefs. I truley hope she say screw them all. I endorse Ron Paul for President. If she does run it will be lot of fun anyhow. I just don't think she is quick enough on her feet to take the media attacks she will enure.

Louis Tully| 8.22.11 @ 8:26AM

it would serve her better in her media creer.

Some Memes never die.....

Doctor Right| 8.22.11 @ 9:25AM

The only people Ron Paul excites are the 9% of GOP-voters who think he's dreamy.

The rest of us KNOW he's a dangerous nut.

The Paulistas and the bizarre cult-of-personality that surrounds Paul will flame out after the election. Paul will retire to obscurity, where he'll become the answer to a Trivial Pursuit question.

And the Paulistas?

They'll fixate on the next anarcho-anti-semite that they can find.

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 10:23AM

Ron Paul has the most loyal and committed followers. He does far better with young people and I dependents then any other Republican. He has defined the issues of this campaign. the wars and foreign aid are as popular as terminal cancer. no prowar Bush clone is going to win period. Your day is done. The country is broke.

Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 12:38PM

Yeah, Paul does. You can recognize them by their swastikas and tinfoil hats.

Mr. Republican| 8.22.11 @ 12:07PM

Dr.Right,
Your bedside manner must be charming.
Even if Ron Paul has only 9%, the Republican Party needs that 9% to win. In 2008 the conservative base did not come out for McCain. I am not a Paul supporter. But all the loons on this site constantly insulting Paul supporters, and calling them anti semites, is good only for idiots who enjoy insulting others, and for the Democratic Party. The Democrats are laughing at people like you.. Maybe you are a Democrat, you and your little group, and are doing your best to drive away the Paul supporters from voting for a Republican.

Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 12:41PM

Well, The Paulbots tend to be antisemitic---certaily Clint and Jack are.

I think we will gain more than enough independents to make up for NOT having Paul on the ticket. He votes in LOCKSTEP with Dennis Kucinich on foreign policy. Check THOMAS on that, feel free NOT to take my word on it.

I prefer Bachmann. No one can call her Not a Tea Partier, and she is sane on foreign policy, unlike Paul.

Mr.Republican| 8.22.11 @ 2:19PM

Occam's Tool
Not a supporter of Kucinich, but Kucinich is not an anti semite, nor is Ron Paul. Maybe some of their suporters are, but we don't know. You don't have to agree with every issue of Ron Paul, or any others in the Republican primaries. But there is nothing to gain by calling the candidate and his supporters anti semites. You are cheapening the term.
Ron Paul will not be the candidate. But his supporters will be voters. Calling them anti semites is not good strategy if we want to win.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:33AM

Both are. Sorry. Not cheapening the term. Antisemites are those who knowingly do things to try to get Jewish people killed off. Both qualify.

I am quite intelligent enough to know who my enemies are, asshole. And we will win without paulbots, if necessary. Paul doesn't support other Republicans when he loses.

It would help if you knew them better. It would also help if you had spent 4 years in Galveston, like I did. Patronize someone else, please. And Clint, I take "sandMonkeys" as an antisemitic comment.

Clint| 8.22.11 @ 10:22PM

You're A Slandering Liar, Screwball Israel Firster Fanatic Traitor Bastard,Tool Job.

Tool Job is all PMS'y because many of We Tea Party Patriots & Our Co-Favorite & Presidential Candidate Dr.Ron paul & Our tea Party Senator Dr.Rand Paul don't Asskiss Tool Job's Personal Israel Firster Agenda.

The Tea Party Rebellion Steps On Tool Job's Face.

Wipe Your Feet.

RCV| 8.22.11 @ 10:26PM

But your other " Tea party favorite" Sarah Palin does, Clint.

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 1:48PM

Ron Paul runs very well head to head agaainst Obama. He is the peace issue all his own. Most people agree with him on the crooked Banksters, the wasteful wars anda calling for an end to all foreign aid. I have been around politics for many years. Commited people, money, and the issues are what wins campaigns. Ron Paul has them all. He is also heads and tails above the whole gang in intelligence and most people notice it when they listen to him. The people calling us anti semites are people who have agenda that isn't best for america. They have been sinking the party and the country long enough. Their time is up.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:34AM

Jack,

you are an antisemitic ass.

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 5:28PM

Ron Paul is tied with Obama right now in the new Gallup poll. That is with no media coverage. I predict Sarah Palin will endorse RonPaul in the end maybe at that Sept rally. Lets get behind the man most of the American people want Ron Paul. Who will be the nominee of the Republican party.

RCV| 8.22.11 @ 6:03PM

Jack, you are in denial. Palin is a steadfast supporter of Israel and the war against terrorism. Why in the world would she endorse Paul?

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 8:17PM

I think she will support Paul in the end he is far closer to her thinking then Romney. The Israel centric foreign policy has to go. It is time to think of America first. Nobody that has an Israeli flag on her wall will get my vote. Everyone knows the war on terror is a complete flop. Sarah Palin is too smart to back that disaster any more.

emo| 8.22.11 @ 10:43PM

There is no Israel centric policy. What you really mean is Israel has to go

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:35AM

No, Paul isn't closer. His foreign policy is a recipe for mass murder in America.

Edward White| 8.22.11 @ 9:40AM

Fundamentalist Christians and Republicans (Repukes)

By obstinately clinging to prejudices that the rest of society is moving beyond, the fundamentalist church and the Republican Party are in the process of making themselves irrelevant. In fact, there are indications that it’s a vicious circle: as fundamentalist churches and the Republican party become less tolerant and more conservative, their younger and more progressive members depart, which makes their average membership still more conservative, which accelerates the progressive exodus still further, and so on.

Christian fundamentalism and the crazy Right-Wing of the Republican Party are causing young, bright progressives to flee in a mass exodus.

And though I am far from young, I'm thinking about joining them.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 10:06AM

Yor problem is with the First Amendment you that allows Americans to choose to believe in God, gods or nothing. That's called freedom.

Actually the youth are fleeing Obama 44% disaprove of him while only 31% approve. I think the failed policies of Barack Obama and the Democrat Congress are creating a new generation of Republicans just like Jimmy Carter did.

As early as last September 2010 it was clear he was losing the youth vote. Obama is so bad his loyalist base African-Americans are fed up with his incompetence and failed policies that are destroying tens of millions of Americans lives.

Thanks to Obama's policies 14.7 million children, 20% of America's children are poorer. That represents a 2.5 million increase from 2000, when 17% of the nation's youth lived in low-income homes. Real personal income has grown just .9% compared to 9.4% for the same period in previous post 1960 recessions.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 1:54PM

Amen.
The Left thinks that if they simply say something, it makes it the truth, and everyone will believe it!
LOL.
Have you ever heard some of the young conservatives these days? They are wonderful. Some of the brightest and best ever produced by mankind.
The country is not and will not be lost because of them. They believe in God and country~ and they get it!
They aren't led astray by flashy talk (though not in the case of Obama, he uses the tele-prompter), and phony promises.
They know who to listen to BECAUSE they believe in God.

Kingofthenet| 8.22.11 @ 2:31PM

Unfortunately they don't know how to THINK thou, Religion destroys that.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 2:36PM

Religion is one thing~ faith in God is another.
"Come to your right mind", Kingofthe Net!!
We'll be waiting for you.

android| 8.22.11 @ 2:41PM

"Amen.
The Left thinks that if they simply say something, it makes it the truth, and everyone will believe it!
LOL."

Margie Does The Same Thing

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 3:00PM

Clint/Tim*,

My, my!
What a hypocrite you are~ posting under another name~ yet you constantly accuse others here of doing same.

You gave yourself away with the capitalization in your last sentence.

As I've always said here for over 2 years and counting~ you are a snake!

Clint| 8.22.11 @ 10:24PM

That's Not My Post You Paranoid Asshole.

I Got $1000.00 That Says It Ain't Mine.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:36AM

Dear Clint,

regardless of who posted what, you are still a terrorist catamite.

And for the record, it wan't me, you slanderous scumbag. We antijihadists step on your face, and then grind it in.

Dai Alanye | 8.22.11 @ 10:08AM

"...bright progressives..."

Isn't this an oxymoron?

Nancy| 8.22.11 @ 10:15AM

I think Edward White has made a good point.

He must have read the same article I read recently in the Washington Times about young people leaving the Republican party in droves.

We have to recognize this loss of our future leadership and deal with it some way.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 11:53AM

If that were true the Obama campaign wouldn't be worrying about the youth vote. They may be becoming independents, but they're not Democrats and that's a good thing. Better purple than Democrat blue (Democrats were always red until 2000, but they didn't like being linked with Marxists).

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 1:53PM

Ron Paul is the only Republican who appeals to the youth vote. He also appeals best to independents and Democrats. These votes are needed for any Republican to win. The brain dead, over the cliff Republicans are only about 20% of the country. We can't win on a platform of endless war for Israel and endless bailouts for the banksters and plutocrats.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:37AM

He doesn't appeal to the majority of the youth vote. There's nothing here in rural Minn. for paul. Nothing. Nada.

Nick| 8.22.11 @ 11:53AM

Nancy,

The youth are not our future.

The yutes do not vote, as attested to by the elections of 2010. Who cares what they do, they cannot be counted on to show up on election day.

Judge Haller: Did you say "yutes"? What is a yute?

Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 12:41PM

Oh, sorry, YUUUUUUTTHHHHHHHH.

Sweet Home Alabama.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 2:38PM

""...bright progressives..."

Isn't this an oxymoron?"

~Not if you stick a couple of 100 watt lightbulbs in their ears, or wire them for 220 perhaps.

stephanie| 8.22.11 @ 7:02PM

Since when did progressives join and vote republican? You lost me dude.

Clint Brooks| 8.23.11 @ 1:19AM

Spoken like a truth idiot.

W| 8.22.11 @ 3:48PM

I like Sara, but I prefer Bachman. Sara cannot win, but Bachman can. Sara should have entered the race earlier if she wanted to run, the debates would have helped her polish her debating skills, and brought out early all the negatives so she could have responded.
Sara does not add anything to the race that Bachman has, they have similar views, just a matter of personalities.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 4:10PM

It's Sarah to you, W.
And she can win.

Trinacria| 8.22.11 @ 4:48PM

"She is about the only one out there that comes close to the excitment that Ron Paul generates."

Quite so - and she will deliver precisely the same result as the good Dr. Paul in a general election. Next...

Cosmo| 8.23.11 @ 1:33AM

Some Palin factoids:
Alaska has two liberal Senators thanks to Palin...
Alaska voters prefer Obama to Palin in polls...
Palin may be a neo-con....war monger like Bush

Hobbes| 8.22.11 @ 11:27AM

Yesterday's news. Move on, already.

Standing4Liberty| 8.22.11 @ 12:24AM

This explains it, Stacy.

Palin on leadership:
Leaders are expected to give good speeches, but leadership is so much more than oratory. Real leadership requires deeds even more than words. It means taking on the problems no one else wants to tackle. It means providing vision and guidance, inspiring people to action, bringing everyone to the table, and with a servant's heart dedicating oneself to striking agreements that keep faith with our Constitution and with the ordinary citizens who entrusted you with power. It means bucking the status quo, fighting the corrupt powers that be, serving the common good, and leaving the country better than you found it. Most of us don’t see a lot of that real leadership in D.C., and it’s profoundly disappointing.
Source: The Sugar Daddy Has Run Out of Sugar; Now We Need New Leaders by Sarah Palin, July 9, 2011, Facebook

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 1:57PM

I saw Mrs Palin give a speech to outRight to life group. We paid a lot of money, She drew a large and friendly crowd. But is cost a lot of money. The speech was good and professionaly written. The trouble with her is that she is not good on her feet and has to be heavily controlled by handlers. That and the fact that she has been under attack for years give her a steep hill to climb.

RCV| 8.22.11 @ 6:06PM

Your mistake was in paying her in advance. Once she has the money, she's outa here.

W| 8.22.11 @ 6:13PM

She needs to borrow Obama's teleprompter.

DaveS| 8.22.11 @ 6:27AM

In print, Sarah is terrific. But on the stump, she's borderline shrill. And she's showing some signs or paranoia.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 6:41AM

She'll probably be the best thing that happens for Romney. That's not good for conservatives.

Her loss in the primaries will end her as a force in the GOP.

Clint| 8.22.11 @ 6:48AM

Uh Oh !

RINO-CINO Little Micky from Tejas badmouths Our Tea Party Co-Favorite Sarah Palin.

Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 12:42PM

How many co-faves do you got, Clint? And do you realize the majority support little Ockie on Foreign Policy?

Clint| 8.22.11 @ 10:27PM

We Tea Party Patriots Have Been Polled For Our Two Co-Favorites, Sarah Palin & Dr.Ron Paul.

You Would Know,That If You Were A Tea Party Patriot.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:38AM

Where's Bachmann, the other co-favorite, Ministry of Truth Moron?

Louis Tully| 8.22.11 @ 8:28AM

A dope can dream, can't he?

Willis| 8.22.11 @ 8:50AM

Strictly on the basis of voice quality (including shrillness), picking who would win the fingernails on the chalkboard award between Sarah Palin and Algore is a tough call. Listening to either of them as president for four years would be trying.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 9:54AM

Newsflash! Even if Sarah's voice is shrill, even if she does run, even if she wins and makes you listen to her shrill voice from time to time, would you rather face an Obama death panel? I promise you this, if they get going, they will be staffed with people with incredibly shrill voices that you will never hear pronounce your 'withhold treatment' death sentence...

Shrill on, Sarah, shrill on!

So besides being 'shrill' what does she think that you don't?

DH

PS I have seen her live-she does have an upper register vocal range- when she's tired and trying to get loud, you could call her shrill. But a gentlemen would hear her and describe her as a soprano...

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 1:58PM

Love it, Mr. Hirsch. You may not approve of this, but~ you're my kind of guy!!
God bless you. And if I may say so, Sarah blesses you!

android| 8.22.11 @ 2:44PM

"Love it, Mr. Hirsch. You may not approve of this, but~ you're my kind of guy!!
God bless you. And if I may say so, Sarah blesses you!"

But Margie Not Bless If Mr. Hirsch Is Catholic. Then Margie Condemn Because You Are Not Of Her Religion Of One (Lunatic)!

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 3:03PM

Clint/Tim* (android)~

As I said above, your hypocrisy is showing. It's those caps in your sentences.
Poor pitiful snake.

RCV| 8.22.11 @ 4:13PM

"Android" is an excellent moniker for Clint/Tim*: "a robot with a human appearance."

Clint Brooks| 8.23.11 @ 1:21AM

Like you Clint posts whatever his controllers tell him to.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:39AM

You know, RCV, the concept of Clint as a 302 neuroned, self-fertilizing hermaphroditic roundworm has a certain appeal...

Clint| 8.22.11 @ 10:29PM

I Got $1000.00 That Says That Ain't My Post,You Paranoid Asshat.

Put Up Or Shut Up.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:48AM

I happen to agree with Clint: the post doesn't smell of that special feral eau de merde that is Clint's trademark.

stephanie| 8.22.11 @ 7:06PM

Hey Willie! I wouldn't be any worse than listening to barry drone on and one saying the same thing speech after speech. I'll take Sarah any day!

John McG| 8.22.11 @ 10:56AM

These traits, and others we'll see if she runs, are all true, but for me, they're all trumped by the fact she quit her job. No matter the justifications, the nub is that she walked out of the Governor's office.

I love the lady, I agree with her views, but a true statesman would have found a way to fight back and win. All the fancy video teasers parceled out these last few months become irrelevant when this questions is asked: What will she do under pressure?

If you're certain she'll do just fine, how do you know?

TrueBlue| 8.22.11 @ 1:08PM

Better that she quit the job and let someone else take it, than spend all of her time dealing with frivilous lawsuits from left-wing wackos. It left her unable to actually DO the job she was elected to do, that's why she resigned. Why people keep pointing to this as a bad quality I can't understand. Would you rather she spent all of her time fighting lawsuits and wasting the state's money unable to do the job because she was in court the whole time?

It had nothing to do with pressure, but the entire issue was largely ignored by the media (big surprise there). If they were to do that after she was elected President it'd be all over world news and people would see just how pathetic those organizations are acting.

irish19| 8.22.11 @ 1:10PM

Obama quit his job as Senator too. He promised the people of Illinois he'd serve a full term in the Senate before running for higher office. I think that would be a wash as a campaign issue.

W| 8.22.11 @ 3:54PM

Irish 19, Obama never worked his job as Senator, I think his only vote was against raising the debt limit in 2006, which we know from him telling us is unpatriotic, and his other vote was against Alito.

Kitty| 8.22.11 @ 6:33AM

Sarah Palin will declare her candidacy when she's ready. If she doesn't declare by Sept. 3rd, that's fine with me, I won't be disappointed, because I know she's running. I don't know of any of her supporters who would turn on her because she didn't announce when the MSM assumed she would.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 1:59PM

You betcha you're right, Kitty.

stephanie| 8.22.11 @ 7:08PM

Clinton didn't announce until mid October when he ran the first time.

Farhan | 8.22.11 @ 6:57AM

i will waiting for you sarah
__________________
http://sticky.tk

Tawny Jones| 8.22.11 @ 6:58AM

"Brevity is the soul of wit", Mr. McCain. We don't need mucho verbiage to undertand what we have known since Sarah's Wisconsin "Game On" speech. She is running for POTUS.

Zbigniew Mazurak| 8.22.11 @ 9:27AM

And you're saying this because...? Because you want her to run?

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.22.11 @ 7:33AM

Robert Stacy
It takes a lot of money to run for President.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 8:39AM

Ken,
You just have to look at RINO Ron Paul and realize money will not be a problem for Sarah Palin. Her supporters are enthusiastic and committed. Anyone who underestimates her, despite a thin resume, questions about resigning as Governor of Alaska and willingness to support Democrats, is foolish. She is a forceful speaker and sincere (the MSM says shrill and dogmatic, but that works to her advantage).

Will she win the nomination in a year Republicans want to win? That’s a serious question with her negatives outside the Tea Party and GOP (59% Americans have stated they will not vote for her and in Alaska where they seemingly know her best 49% of registered Alaskans have a negative opinion of her and 39% favorable), but she has a serious shot at it (in the GOP 31% support her, 24% oppose her and 41% are undecided). Some speculate that if she jumps in statistically it would automatically be a three way tie (Romney 18%, Perry 17%, Palin 17% and a fading Bachmann 8%).

Ultimately, will Republican primary voters want a leader with a record and accomplishments (Perry, Romney and Bachmann) or will passion trump everything else? Never underestimate passion and a good speech – look how far a 2004 speech and infatuation took a nobody like Obama.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.22.11 @ 9:18AM

Michael,
one question; have YOU ever been polled? I have not...in over forty years.
One thing I have always believed in is straight up competition. I personally pray that Sarah steps in.

It doesn't have to be a bloodbath between her and Perry. In fact, between the two of them, they could very well marginalize Romney as merely a New England fringe candidate.
Near the end of the primaries I can actually picture either Rick or Sarah stepping aside for the other....for the good of the country.

If elected, it is my firm belief that Romney can't and won't take us where our country needs to go.

Finally, let's not run to "not lose". Let's run to win both before and after the election.
I would be delighted with either Rick or Sarah in the general.

Drunken Sailor| 8.22.11 @ 10:14AM

Ken,
You mentioned one of two theories that have been running circles in my head since Perry's candidacy announcement.
1. Sarah and Perry are going to team up to run Mitt out then one will step down.
2. Sarah is running interference for Perry. From what I have notices so far her appearances and speeches keep pulling the rug out from under Mitt and Michelle.

Maybe I am just excercising wishfull thinking but something seems to be going on and I would think it is almost to late for Sara to run. Her popularity has peaked even though she still has a strong faithful base. I still think she can do the conservative movement the most good where she is as a mouthpiece for conservative values. Now I will probably be attacked by some of her rabid fans. I am her fan but do not think this is her time.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 11:57AM

Sarah Palin is all about Sarah Palin all the time. She should go to Arizona run for Governor when Jan Brewer's term ends and then amass a real record of leadership (mayor of Wasilla, 2 yrs as Governor and reality TV show personality don't count).

That's what Reagan did and it is a good example for her to follow. If she loses this year she's finished as a mover and shaker in the GOP despite what she or his base think. The future will belong to the Marco Rubio's, Mike Pence's, Paul Ryan's and Allen West's.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 2:43PM

Hi Drunken Sailor~

I like the plan of Rick Perry and Sarah Palin on the same ticket, but neither one dropping out.

Like Ken said, the PP ticket.
Better than the B.O. ticket.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:40AM

Margie---penalty---5 yards---bad pun! ;)

Margie| 8.23.11 @ 2:13PM

Pitiful, huh? I should have left well enough alone. That is, Ken's original. :^)~!

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 4:04PM

Naw! I like it. Punning is fun!

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 10:44AM

Ken,
I have been.  Since I reside in what was the battleground state of NC in early 2009 I was polled extensively until they found I was anti-Obama (on every subject including his parenting) long before a lot of folks woke up to how bad he was (Obamacon Peggy Noonan, George Will and Pat Buchanan who likened him to Reagan come to mind). 

If you compare Perry to Palin the choice is simple Perry, because he’s (1) successfully governed a major state since 2001 (roughly the 11th nation in the world), (2) he's worked with national and international leaders to create American jobs in Texas, (3) he's a strong social conservative, (4) he’s worked with a very independent legislature to balance the state’s budget, (5) he understands energy policy as a governor working against Obama and the environmentalists,  (6) he’ll be strong on defense, (7) he's never lost an election and his last gubernatorial primary was against a good candidate with lots of money and he started out 20 points down and won. . .   

Sarah Palin like Romney (runner-up) is one of the anointed heirs, because she was the running mate of the pitiable Maverick John McCain.  Had it not been for that she’d be a little known private citizen in Alaska.  As to her early record it was only slightly weightier than Obama’s in 2008 and the only reasons McCain chose her was he thought he could control her and she’d joined with Democrats to undermine the Republican Party in Alaska – she was a Maverick one reason I don’t trust her. 

Her most memorable action as Governor was to quit her job in mid-term, because she didn't want to face frivolous ethics investigations, couldn’t handle it or to make money (none good reasons).  How is she actually going to handle a hostile press and world in the White House?  If how she does now we’ll be in for 4 years of her in front of a camera as much as Obama.  She gives a good and rousing speech, is telegenic and thanks to the media “pick’n on the girl” has a loyal and dedicated minority fan base in the Party who thinks she deserves the nomination (much like Dole and McCain did when they ran for President).  I do not  ascribed to this philosophy  of “heirs” or “my turn” in the GOP that’s why I supported Jack Kemp against G.H.W. Bush, Phil Gramm & Steve Forbes against Dole and Mitt Romney against McCain I support who I think is best not next in line. 

Ken I agree you 100% we must win and even though I do not trust Sarah Palin’s judgment or leadership (perpetually campaigning, publicity tours and popularity polls are not leadership) I will vote for her, because she is fervently pro-Israel, if she gets the nomination. I will vote for Romney too, because he did a good job of saving the Olympics and his apparently good business skills.  There’s only one candidate I would not vote for on the GOP ticket RINO Ron “Wild Shrimp Cowboy” Paul, but you never know I thought I’d never vote for McCain.  Sometimes you just hold your nose and vote for the best of a bad lot. 

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:41AM

Speaking of Democratic idiots, Jim Webb has just noted how Indonesia is not Islamist. Uh huh.

W| 8.23.11 @ 9:14PM

Jim Webb wrote a great book about Vietnam, "Fields of Fire," some other novels, and an interesting book about the Scotch-Irish,"Born Fighting." He was Secretary of the Navy under Reagan, and wrote some terrific articles for the Wall Street Journal editorial page. His best line was that if Jane Fonda was on fire, he would not cross the street to piss on her.
He changed because of the Iraq War. His son is a Marine who served in Iraq. I am curious to hear from him all the reasons for his change.
He is a patriot who served in Vietnam, a Marine, wounded twice, awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star.

heredress | 8.23.11 @ 5:10AM

cool, i support

Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 12:43PM

I think I may have been, Ken.

Of course, I'm always being polled professionally.

Pat D| 8.22.11 @ 9:55AM

Romney made millions on Wall Street, saved the Winter Olympics from failure, and then won the governorship of Massachusetts. So far, so good. But then he introduced Romneycare, the model for Obamacare. No conservative could vote for someone who supports that healthcare model. His signature accomplishment is a huge negative.

Perry is a successful governor but he has worked with GOP control of the state, for the most part. That makes it easier. Despite that, taxes have gone up and Texas has a deficit problem. We are seeing evidence that he's the worst sort of capitalist, a crony capitalist.

I'm having real trouble thinking of any accomplishments by Bachmann. She got elected and she's been a great spokesperson for conservative causes. After that, not much.

Palin was a successful Mayor, performed well on the Alaska Oil and Gas commission, until she resigned to protest rampant GOP corruption, ran for Governor, and then took on the CBC (corrupt bastards club) and won. She followed Alaska's constitution, that gives ownership of natural resources to the people, and rewrote the agreement between big oil and the people to the peoples' benefit. She negotiated an agreement to build a natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48. She cut spending and socked away surpluses for a rainy day. She converted state employee pensions from defined benefits (bad) to defined contributions (good). She did all this in a bi-partisan way. She was the only thing that saved McCain from going down like Carter, and that made her target #1 for the left. They have done everything they could to destroy her, and she has withstood the dozens of frivilous lawsuits, the hate, the lies, the sexism, and the vitriol. After resigning, a huge political risk, she established herself as a leading critic of the Obama administration and a key influencer on the GOP. Her 2010 endorsements carried a lot of weight. Just ask Haley.

Too many people are making the mistake of underestimating Palin. The mauling she's taken has done some damage, but it has also solidified a loyal base of support. It's going to be fun when the arctic fox gets into the chicken coop.

JimH| 8.22.11 @ 10:04AM

I'd love to be shown to be wrong, but the impression I have of Romney is that his Wall St. activities merely made paper profits without actually creating any new wealth and cost many Americans their jobs in the process.

Dai Alanye | 8.22.11 @ 10:15AM

Finally, a rational analysis of Palin from someone. Pat D wins the clear thinking award.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 11:19AM

Pat,
Sarah Palin was successful as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. It had a population of a little over 5,000 people in 2000. Big whoop! She was Governor of Alaska for 2 years and a notable feature of her administration was bipartisan dealing making with Democrats. That definitely gave her more executive time against candidate Obama, but Rick Perry is Governor of a the 2d largest state with a population of 25,145,561 (5 million who moved to the state during his tenure). Texas would rank 11th as the most prosperous nation in the world if it were a independent nation.

I do appreciate your sharing her penchant for resigning. She's a fan of government pork/earmarks (that should make RINO Ron Paul's base supportive of her bid). During her tenure little Wasilla got $11.9 million in earmarks. That's a town of 5,00 souls. As mayor of Wasilla she got the reputation for nepotism and cronyism too (a charge easily leveled against most politicians). She also has a reputation of being a petty and holds grudges. Her actions during the last Senate election were ascribed to her ongoing feud against the Murkowski clan -- a battle she lost, but thankfully the Democrats did not (unlike NV and DE where her candidates lost elections that would have end Reid's career and diminished Democrat power in the Senate).

Under Perry’s stewardship Texas has created more jobs than the rest of the US. During Obama’s first year in office, more than half (119,000) of all the new jobs in the United States were created in Rick Perry’s business-friendly Texas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between January 2001 and June 2010, the BLS calculates, Texas’ non-farm employment grew from 9,542,400 in January 2001, when Perry took office, to 10,395,800 in June 2010 — an increase of 853,400 or 8.9 percent. Big-government California simultaneously lost 827,800 jobs. As a right-to-work state that taxes neither personal income nor capital gains over the same decade Texas added more jobs than the other 49 states combined. And since the recovery began, Texas has created 37 percent of America’s net new jobs. Again employment in Texas grew more than in the other 49 states combined. Since June 2009, when the recession officially ended, Texas has produced 265,300 net jobs, equal to 36.7 percent of the 722,200 positions created nationwide. Texas isn't just the fastest growing... it's growing over twice as fast as the second fastest state and three times as fast as the third. Given that Texas is huge, this growth is incredible.

As America’s No. 1 exporting state, Perry’s Texas shipped $206.6 billion in goods abroad last year, composing 16 percent of America’s $1.28 trillion in exports. California’s $14.4 billion in exports ranked it second, with 11.2 percent of U.S. outflow.

Texas with Republican governors (1996-2009 or Bush and Perry) who refused to raise taxes and restrained spending saw per capita income jump by more than 42%. Since the recession started hourly wages in Texas have increased at a 6th fastest pace in the nation. Employment was up 10.5% in Texas.

Like Obama's supporters you really don't want her running on her record against Perry, Romney or Bachmann. There is no comparison and she comes up short. She needs to keep it simple and avoid getting to caught in a battle with all the other GOP hopefuls who have far more experience in government and business.

Your illustration of the fox in the chicken coop might give some the idea you're implying she'll take advantage of the Presidency (if elected) for graft or petty vindictiveness.

I do agree she's taken some hits, but what Republican doesn't. The media have been after Bachmann and Perry too. Shoot one of Ron Paul's Austin minions in an alternative/leftist/gay paper is trying to find dirt on Rick Perry's sex life. Pretty disgusting isn't it. Reminds me of the morons who implied Trig wasn't Sarah's baby and other disgusting sleaze about her family.

Politics isn't always nice or pretty. Look what happened in 2008 when McCain played nice and America lost. But the MSM "pick'n on the girl" has paid off for Sarah. It might even get her into the White House. That is if she can survive a general election that is mean and dirty.

Pat D| 8.22.11 @ 12:22PM

If Palin doesn't run, I'd support Perry. I mentioned crony capitalism because that is a big knock against him.

Experience at local government is the starting point for many politicians. Don't knock it.

Perry started his political career as a Democrat, serving 3 two year terms in the Texas House. He quit the Democrats and joined the GOP. He won the elected position of Agricultural Commissioner, then Lt. Governor, and then Governor. I'm not seeing much private sector experience in there; door-to-door salesman and the family cotton farm. His military experience is good.

You misunderstood my reference to the artic fox. It refers to her track record as a very cunning politician who upsets conventional wisdom. One thing she has shown is a commitment to clean government. The Murkowski clan were part of the GOP establishment in Alaska, a group better known as the "Corrupt Bastards Club". Here's what one local Alaskan had to say about Palin and that gang:

"1- Democrats forget when Palin was the Darling of the Democrats, because as soon as Palin took the Governor's office away from a fellow Republican and tough SOB, Frank Murkowski, she tore into the Republican's "Corrupt Bastards Club" (CBC) and sent them packing. Many of them are now residing in State housing and wearing orange jump suits The Democrats reacted by skipping around the yard, throwing confetti and singing, "la la la la" (well, you know how they are). Name another governor in this country that has ever done anything similar.

2- Now with the CBC gone, there were fewer Alaskan politicians to protect the huge, giant oil companies here. So she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called "ACES." Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them, "don't let the door hit you in the stern on your way out." They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich. Of course, the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar.

3- The other thing she did when she walked into the governor's office is she got the list of State requests for federal funding for projects, known as "pork." She went through the list, took 85% of them and placed them in the "when-hell-freezes-over" stack. She let locals know that if we need something built, we'll pay for it ourselves. Maybe she figured she could use the money she got from selling the previous governor's jet because it was extravagant Maybe she could use the money she saved by dismissing the governor's cook (remarking that she could cook for her own family), giving back the State vehicle issued to her, maintaining that she already had a car, and dismissing her State provided security force (never mentioning - I imagine - that she's packing heat herself). I'm still waiting to hear the names of those other governors.

4- Now, even with her much-ridiculed "gosh and golly" mannerism, she also managed to put together a totally new approach to getting a natural gas pipeline built which will be the biggest private construction project in the history of North America. No one else could do it although they tried. If that doesn't impress you, then you're trying too hard to be unimpressed while watching her do things like this while baking up a batch of brownies with her other hand..

5- For 30 years, Exxon held a lease to do exploratory drilling at a place called Point Thom pson. They made excuses the entire time why they couldn't start drilling. In truth they were holding it like an investment. No governor for 30 years could make them get started... This summer, she told them she was revoking their lease and kicking them out. They protested and threatened court action. She shrugged and reminded them that she knew the way to the court house. Alaska won again."

Palin has been under constant attack for three years. The attacks finally slowed when her emails were released, and all they showed was a competent governor. The left has used up all its anti-Palin ammunition; they have nothing left to fire. Meanwhile, she's reloaded.

Perry hasn't yet faced that onslaught. But, if the left see him as a threat to Obama they will attack him and his family just as fiercely. Better hope he doesn't make too many more mistakes, because the MSM is just waiting to tear him, or almost any other GOP candidate, into shreds.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.22.11 @ 1:05PM

Pat,
a nice reminder. Thank you.
If I may add one point? She had an 85% positive rating in Alaska before she decided to help John McDufus.

TrueBlue| 8.22.11 @ 1:28PM

I can't really fault her for accepting to run as his VP. I looked at her as a possible counter to McCain's RINOism. He picked her because he knew she'd help get his numbers up, which they did, he didn't lose to Obama by that much (it wasn't nearly the landslide the MSM made it out to be).

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 2:12PM

McCain didn't help her, but the majority were not impressed with her resigning. I think the people of Alaska would have stood by her if attacked with frivilous lawsuits, but she cut bait and went for the money. That's got to have left a bitter taste in Alaskan's mouths. She'd be the shoe-in as heir apparent if she had finished her term.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 4:51PM

"McCain didn't help her.."

I think he did, and in this way: I never heard of her till McCain. so, thanks to John McCain for that!

God's in control and just look at how Sarah has become known to us and is continuing to be known.. and loved.

Me personally? I'm happy with most of our candidates, as are you, with the exception of Romney, but I'd still vote for him if he became the nominee.

I just think Sarah will take the cake (as she does now), and she'll take the take the Presidency too, if she enters the race. :^).

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 4:52PM

p.s. As always, I enjoy reading your interesting and informative posts.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 2:09PM

Pat got you on the artic fox. A good illustration. My misread. Unfortunately, all of our better candidates have been gaffe prone, but it is early and they should be Ok by the general whoever is selected.

R Martin| 8.22.11 @ 8:05AM

There is a lot to like about Sarah Palin, but the bottom line is that she is simply not good enough to be president of the United States. (The same can be said about many of the other announced Republican candidates.)

I know, I know, neither is Obama, but let's not reduce to ourselves to comparisons with him. Palin could be a huge factor in unseating Obama. How she addresses that task will tell us great deal about her.

Kitty| 8.22.11 @ 8:22AM

So who, in your opinion, is "good enough" and why?

Louis Tully| 8.22.11 @ 8:31AM

I'm guessing Romney.
But, I don't think Sarah intends to drag another RINO stiff across the finish line this time.

Harry the Horrible| 8.22.11 @ 8:44AM

Why would anybody in the GOP want a 'Pubby who was liberal enough to get elected in the People's Democratic Republic of Massachusetts?

Hank | 8.22.11 @ 8:22AM

I don't know if she's running but I do know this: Obama could be taking the Oath of office in 2013 and at least a few Palinoids will still be insisting that "Sarah will jump in when the time is right."

gazinya| 8.22.11 @ 8:37AM

Political Pundits are sometimes like DC regulatory pundits. They come to work and if they sit for 10 minutes without a thought in their head they think they are not working. This worries them and so they must think of something to say or regulate. Like thinking that 'dust from a farmer tilling his field is pollution'. So political pundits want to be on the cutting edge of political discourse. Sarah Palin is so hard for them to follow that they say she is 'poluting the air with her timetable'. They want so much to be the first to say, 'I predicted or told you so' that it fries their brain.

We are living in a vortex of 'So you think God is dead, huh' that those who fear writing honestly about what we are experiencing in this country has become so 'Biblical in scope' that they look to the 'farmers field' to blame for the dust in the air.

Harry the Horrible| 8.22.11 @ 8:43AM

I'm not sure we need Sarah Palin.
I like her a lot, but we already have a field with various flavors of conservatives: Bachman, Cain, Perry, etc.
We're already in danger of splitting the conservative vote and sending a RINO like Romney to face Obama and his puppeteers.
We really, really don't need that.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 9:03AM

Harry,

That's why we have a primary - so we can all talk and argue about what's what and then we pick somebody, then we ALL support them.

That's why I supported Bob Dole, GW Bush, John McCain. All three brave courageous war heros, the latter two increasingly RINO and even more so CINO. But I supported them.

Mrs. Palin may be the first true conservative candidate we've had in a long time. But she has two things going for her: star power and once she's campaigning, people will actually hear her words, not MSM's uniformly uninformed talking points. When she is heard, she wins..

DH

Don't tread on me...

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 9:09AM

Good point about the general election, but don't forget Sarah said before the 2010 elections she could support "conservative" (non-existent) Democrats and she's not been able to persuade her husband or son to register as Republicans.

She's a thorough going populist and that's not the same as a conservative.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 9:43AM

Michael;

She is populist if you refer to her correctly identifying the 'Beltway insiders' as the presumptive Rulers of every aspect of American life, completely irrespective of Constitutional limitations.

She is not Populist from the perspective that whatever the people claim to want they should have...She is very clear that she wants to get back to Constitutional government, more so than any other candidate. I want that, too. Don't you?

DH

Don't tread on me...

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 11:43AM

Dan,
Generally a populist is defined as the people against the elite and I think that fits the persona Sarah Palin is projecting in public.

Where I disagree with populists is they tend to continue on that track even against sound conservative principles and traditions -- if it is popular with the people then many populist politicians are for it regardless of where it leads. I'm not sure at this time if that is Sarah Palin, because she like many Republicans grew on the corrupting nature of earmarks even as some sadly have devolved.

It can also be an affectation as in the case of Obama 2008 and the "blue lap dogs." In Obama's and Democrat's case it turned quickly to demagoguery.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 2:06PM

Michael,

Populists are also characterized by a lack of underlying principles. If you don't see that Mrs. Palin has lived her life according to socially and fiscally conservative principles, you need to get glasses, real strong ones.

Characterizing her as a populist is inaccurate, unfair, and to many stigmatizing. Show us examples of her speaking, living, or governing against conservative principles or for socialist or liberal principles. I think you will fail.

I wonder what kind of principles Governor Perry holds when he rules that all minor, teenage girls under his jurisdiction, should be immunized against STD's irrespective of the wishes of their parents. Does the Texas Constitution contain a clause giving a governor "In loci parentis." responsibilities? I think not. Claiming that parents objecting could opt out shows a worrisomely faint respect for parents' rights. To me, it is as offensive as RomneyCare.

DH

Don't tread on me...

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 2:18PM

I definitely believe she's a social conservative. Not fully convinced on fiscal conservative, but until recently most GOP politicians were addicted to Federal pork not just Sarah Palin.

Rick Perry owned up to his error and said the Legislature did right to slap him down. In politics that takes cajones to admit you were wrong.

Still haven't heard an explanation from Sarah Palin for resigning that rings true. If it was that hard for her to be Governor of Alaska guess how much harder it would be for her as President in a hostile city with a national and world press hammering her daily.

Chelie| 8.24.11 @ 12:49PM

She resigned because the state constitution at the time (which has since been amended) prohibited governors from using personal funds to fight ethics complaints. So, in essence, she resigned so that the state of Alaska would not have to pay all the legal fees and court costs for all the frivolous ethics complaints filed by Democratic operatives trying to torpedo the McCain/Palin ticket. I believe that all the ethics complaints have since been dismissed; just as they could find nothing in her 24,000 emails that showed any malfeasance, they could find nothing in these complaints.

WJ| 8.22.11 @ 9:50AM

Wasn't the first Bush - GHWB, George Herbert Walker Bush? I know you weren't referring to George W. Bus when you mentioned courageous war heroes.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 9:12AM

Harry,
Her entrance will only add another candidate to a full field, but that's not a bad thing. While I think she'll help Romney and if the GOP primary voters choose him in a fair and full field then he'll be the better candiate for it though he's not my candidate in the primaries.

Timttd| 8.22.11 @ 9:43AM

Bachmann has never held an executive office ,has no leadership experience,and her service in the House has produced no legislation; Bachmann has a very thin political resume.

Also there is a glaring distance between Bachmann's campaign oratory and her actual conduct as a lawmaker.

Bachmann privately lobbied for stimulus funds for Minnesota and pork producers, according to recent media reports, sought spending earmarks that she now opposes and benefited personally from tens of thousands of dollars in federal funds for a family farm and counseling clinic owned by her husband, federal records show.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 12:00PM

She wouldn't be a President and like Sarah Palin far better than Barack Obama on his best day. They're both big supporters of Israel and in the Middle East of hate that Obama is creating that will be a good thing.

TrueBlue| 8.22.11 @ 2:06PM

Sadly in order to remain competitive against farms/companies taking federal funds, you have to accept them too. Otherwise you're eating the higher cost for goods and labor yourself and can't afford as much as those who ARE taking the money can. Difference being she has said she's willing to go without the funds, so long as nobody else gets them either, which I agree with.

Of course, Bachmann (through her campaign staff admittedly, and not her own words) also fired negative statements at Palin after Palin endorsed her as a candidate, just like Ron Paul did with Reagan. Sure it's possible that she just has some rogue people on her staff, but one of them is the guy running her campaign, Ed Rollins, and none of them have gotten so much as a slap on the wrist for it. That doesn't speak well of her character.

Doorgunner| 8.22.11 @ 8:50AM

It all seems designed to build suspense like a low-brow game show. Really, she should get Howe Mandel as her non-campaign emcee. And her non-campaign theme music should be that constant drum roll that plays leading up to the execution of a lame magician's trick.

Only in this case, the trick is to ride around the country, arrive at crucial locations, and detract from your rivals' message without actually risking your own brand because it's 'not a campaign'. You know, I really don't like coy. And Sarah's non-campaign seems like nothing so much as a grand-scale episode of 'the cute girl stands at the edge of pool making a large and public display of her decision-making about whether to get in all for the sake of ego-satisfying attention getting'.

And, although I generally ignore the gesturing of uncommitted, if I really want to know what Sarah has to say I don't have to wait for her next Facebook post or non-campaign speech- I can simply peruse RedState, Hot Air and AmSpec and be exactly twenty-four hours ahead of her.

Sarah Pain? Pfffft.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 9:35AM

Doorgunner,

Quick question: do you dislike NBA games because the first 58 minutes of play are pretty much throw away?

You may not like the way she is playing the game, but she has to play the cards she's been dealt. She's been dealt some pretty crummy cards from the MSM and the Dems, and she's finding a way to work around them.

Besides, early front runners usually get run over.

So, exactly what does she stand for that you don't?

I'm just saying...

DH

Don't tread on me...

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:13PM

First, this isn't a basketball game, this is our country. Second, I don't like the pity card when Obama plays it, and IMO, Sarah's supporters need to stop playing it on her behalf. Yeah, she got a rough deal. Her supporters need to stop using it as a crutch for her YES coy behavior. I'm with Doorgunner. She's like the pool-side flirt. Fish or cut bait, Sarah, and stop playing games. But then, I haven't been a Sarah fan since she quit as governor. Again, yeah, she got a tough deal. The Presidency is tougher. The lawsuits and a little mud slinging are amateur hour compared to what awaits a Republican POTUS. She's a quitter. Period.

Dave| 8.22.11 @ 9:02AM

She should have announced sooner, and jumped in earlier. It's like Fred Thompson all over again.

But I'll vote for her. I can't stand the other contenders.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 9:27AM

If there is a lesson to be learned from the last several election cycles, it's that early front runners always falter and fall. Rudy and Hillary are two prime examples.

By keeping the media guessing, Sarah has kept her name in play and the MSM negativity off-kilter cause they are too busy just trying to get a bead on her to spend any time bashing her.

I saw her on Greta van Susteren's show last Thursday - she was actually explaining that whoever won the Presidency in '12 (her assumption being a defeated Obama) would not be able to turn things around instantly, that it would take time to get the economy headed back in the right direction.

Think about it-she is managing expectations so that people won't suffer from disappointment a year into the next term. I infer that she's doing this for HER term, not somebody else's...

Says me, anyway.

Next couple of weeks should be illuminating...

Notice how Rick Perry's poll numbers are fading as he becomes better known across the country? Notice how Romney's numbers did not actually fall when Perry got in. Perry was just significantly more conservative and Tea Party-compatible than Romney, so he bolted past Romney's lukewarm, but steady, support.

My sense is that the MSM will start a steady stream of attacks on Perry which will erode his new-found support, a lot of whom used to be 'unnamed Republican' backers. Their problem with Sarah is that they have already emptied the cupboard, cabinet, and garage of everything they can find, misconstrue, or invent at Sarah. Now she can then take Hillary's '08 approach to the Vince Foster, Rose Law firm, cattle futures perfect vision problems: 'that's old news and there's nothing there.' C'mon, nobody went through all of Hillary's E-mail, did they?

Nope, Sarah panics them like no other. And when those guys panic, they look very, very foolish...and unbelievable.

Reagan had to work around a very skeptical, very hostile media-Sarah is doing it quite well in my book.

Don't tread on me...

Jack in Wi.| 8.22.11 @ 11:24PM

Romney could not beat McCain with all his millions and all the support he got from talk radio. He won't be able to beat Ron Paul either. Romney is all hat no cattle.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 1:43AM

Paul will not win anything. Period. He is an asshat.

marco| 8.23.11 @ 10:20PM

Bravo! Asshat, if anything, is an understatement for that codger. On to Palin, her Hamlet act has become tiresome. Just give it a rest, sweetie. Why don't you and old Nazi Ron let the serious people run for president unmolested.

Dai Alanye | 8.22.11 @ 10:22AM

The problem with Fred Thompson is he didn't want to work at getting elected. Had he gone at Iowa as hard as Rick Santorum has, he'd have finished first or second and gone on from there. Instead, he thought star power and talk could do the trick.

As far as I'm concerned he owes me twenty bucks.

Dan Hirsch| 8.22.11 @ 2:08PM

Dai,

Sent any money to Newt, lately?

Hope not.

DH

Don't tread on me...

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 9:06AM

I won't support Sarah Palin in the primaries if she jumps in, but one thing that will make it easier to vote for her in the general election -- she's 100% a supporter of Israel. She makes Reagan and Bush (43) look mild in their support for Israel.

Occam's Tool| 8.22.11 @ 12:46PM

Thanks, Mike. Palin understands Sharia and Jihad. Paul and his minions don't. She also is conservative dometically.

Anyone but Paul or Obama for me. (Johnson is invisible, already---like Huntsman.)

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 2:20PM

Who are Johnson and Huntsman? I heard an echo when I said their names.

RCV| 8.22.11 @ 4:16PM

Two very, very different non-entities.

Occam's Tool| 8.23.11 @ 4:14PM

RCV---I have a personal grudge against Johnson, that has NOTHIN to do with Con/Lib. He's the clown who signed the psychologist prescribing act when he was Governor of New Mexico.

A few years after that, under the reign of Bill the Intrusive, I was practicing in NM. As a Community Mental health Center Medical Director, the Governor's office called to ask why it was so hard to recruit psychiatrists to NM (all of my colleagues, incidentally, told me, correctly, "you'll be sorrreeee...!").

You'll be proud of my answer, I'm sure. I called the Guv's office and asked to speak to the person in charge of recruiting. Very nice lady answered. I said, "Ma'am, I have the answer for you, but it may be too crude for you, and you aren't going to like it, I think."

She said, "lay it on me."

"Ma'am, when you kick a man in the balls as hard as you can, don't expect him to be your friend. You have NO idea how negatively that bill [which had garnered a whole FIVE psychologists with prescribing privileges by 2006 OT] has affected Psychiatrists, Most of them, unless they are going to UNM to do research, would as soon spit at you as look at you. That's your answer."

The man was a disaster to Mental Health care in NM. A disaster.

RCV| 8.23.11 @ 4:33PM

He always struck me as a bit of a mental health case himself, Occam. I personally think he's used too many of those drugs he's in favor of legalizing.

Louis Jenkins| 8.22.11 @ 9:15AM

Sarah Palin is about to declare her candidacy. I feel it, and know it. Of all the candidates that brings in the "beef" for the Republican party, Mrs. Palin has the greatest potential. Can she be a King Maker? Yes she can, but wouldn't it be better if she were to run? If Obama is elected this time around, and she remains on the side lines, Sarah will be unable to pull the same "dope" again. In other words, 2016 will be too late. So Mrs. Palin, it's time to get off the pot and do your best, otherwise, we're in for a hurtin' time.

RCV| 8.22.11 @ 4:17PM

As a Democrat, I say: From your lips to God's ears!

Casey Abell| 8.22.11 @ 9:47AM

Conventional wisdom is that her entry would finish Bachmann, who's always been regarded as a Palin stand-in. Maybe con-wis is right. It's easy to see Sarah elbowing Michele out of that part of the GOP room...unless Palin just really flops in the debates. But expectations will be so ridiculously low that Sarah can hardly avoid beating them.

Patrick| 8.23.11 @ 6:46PM

Thing is, Bachmann is actually smarter and a better speaker than Palin. So why would Palin best Bachmann in a debate?

Palin was a breath of fresh air in 2008 because we had a national figure not afraid to be conservative.

Nothing Palin says in the debate will out-smart or out-do what Cain, Perry, Bachmann or Santorum can say. And all but Cain can talk about more extensive public experience actually fighting for and implementing the kinds of things they will talk about.

Does Palin in 2012 have some unique 'it' factor still? I dont think so, and without that, she wont dominate the room like her fans think she will.

Anthony| 8.22.11 @ 10:06AM

Perhaps one of the few candidates with the guts, eloquence and intelligence to take the fight to Obozo. She will level the affirmative action pretender-in- chief, while the others cower and make nice.
All the petty talk about this woman really makes me sick to my stomach. America is burning under Emperor Obozo, and all some Rs can do is make up forced complaints about Palin.
Some of you complainers should become refs for the WWF; while you berate the good guy for minor stuff with your back turned, the bad guys are cheating and kicking the hell out of the other good guy in the ring.
Wake the hell up, we need a real leader, and NOW!!!

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 12:32PM

I think all the GOP candidates have made it clear they're ready and willing to take on Obama. Even Romney has been fiesty. Nobody can touch Bachmann, Cain or Perry in their going after Obama.

What is Palin going to level Obama with -- one liners, quips, and folksy wit? It won't be her record. She plays great to her base, but how about independents and blue collar Democrats? A third of the GOP (those who are enthusiastic for Sarah Palin) won't win the general election no matter how enthused or hard they work (think Wilkie, Dewey and Goldwater).

After 4 years of an affirmative action President whose incompetence is fast making Jimmy Carter look good do you think the country is going to take a chance on an untested candidate or a sure bet with experience? People are craving competence and Sarah Palin despite being a decent and good person with charisma has a record of experience slighly better than Obama's in 2008. (This time around he's got the experience if you can call it that, but it might be enough against Palin.)

The nation doesn't need another leader who needs on the job training. It just isn't worth after Obama and the crisises that will face us in 2013 and beyond.

Anthony| 8.22.11 @ 6:45PM

Oh Michael, I usually enjoy your posts and find you intelligent and thoughtful yet your comments about Gov. Palin smack of RINOism.
If you think this woman has experience " slightly better" than Obozo, you've drunk the establishment R kool aide.
This woman is a natural leader, and like Reagan, her instincts are spot on. Oh, yeah, you can say she is deficient in certain areas but that's just RINO bullshit. They said the same things about Reagan.
I trust her instincts at 3:00 A.M. to make the right call, because she like Reagan, will have surrounded herself with competent intelligent conservatives.
If we're going to lose to Obozo, I want to go down with a solid, clear,visioned conservative. Then when the civil war begins, we'll know who all our ememies are, leftists and R establishment types both!!!
Got it now Michael???

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:16PM

A "natural leader" doesn't quit because of some lawsuits. Sorry, but she couldn't hack it at that level, she does not have the intestinal fortitude to be POTUS.

Patrick| 8.23.11 @ 6:55PM

"If you think this woman has experience " slightly better" than Obozo, you've drunk the establishment R kool aide."

1 1/2 years as Governor. Better than slightly better than O, but that's damning by faint praise. We suffered an incompetent who lacked executive experience, and it would be folly to ignore that in a candidate.

"This woman is a natural leader, and like Reagan, her instincts are spot on."
Hardly. She ALREADY MADE A MAJOR MISTAKE IF SHE WAS INTENDING TO RUN.
By waiting, she led (misled?) Perry to jump in. She should have announced in June. She shouldn't put her supporters in a bind. She shouldn't hold out so long and dissipate the support that would have gravitated to her early on.

Palin was once #1 in the polls of GOP voters. Now she is at #5, behind Ron Paul and 'other'.

We have a Bachman/Perry/Romney race right now. If she doesnt announce Sept 3rd, it's too late to jump in later; if she does, its still too late, she's just another candidate who will have to sell herself and she just wont have it. Consider - september, that's when Fred Thompson announced. Did it work for him?

Jrd| 8.22.11 @ 10:32AM

McCain what do you expect? Palin puts people like Rove, Ed Rollins, Dick Morris etal among the ranks of the unemployed when she pulls this off. Like they don't have a vested interest in bashing her campaign. These whores aren't making any money. They could care less about the interests of "We the People."
McCain get a clue. You are well aware that the old way of doing things has gone the way of the dinosaur. Isn't that why you became a blogger? And get over you snit about Palin calling you out last month. It isn't pretty and you are a bigger man than that. You've got serious work to do.
Like get busy writing something about how Hillary Clinton's PUMA's are very prominent in boots on the ground in both Iowa and Texas for Organizing for Palin. They intend to pay back Obama big time for the cheating that occurred by Obama's thugs in the caucuses in both those states. Watch the documentary "We Will Not Be Silenced." These PUMA's were very important Tea Party voters who assisted in turning the House in 2010. They are all in the Palin camp. Want a clue? Here.
http://www.hillaryis44.org/201.....-vineyard/
The GOP elites are in full panic mode. Bachmann's support collapsed. Your boy Cain can't get any traction. Neither can Santorum. All those supporters move over to the Palin camp. Perry is bleeding support from Romney. Ryan and Christie aren't getting in. If Rudy does he bleeds more support from Romney. Palin is going to take it and the Republican establishment can't stop her. The Hobbits are going to win. This is monumental.
PUMA's are well aware that Governor Palin gave the Democrats a prominent seat at the table in Alaska. The Democrats assisted her in passing her agenda. The Republicans were against her because she exposed the corruption in her own party. Palin is a uniter not a divider and the PUMA's know that she is the only one capable of uniting the nation.
McCain ride the wave or get left behind. Palin has an army of David's willing to follow her through the gates of hell carrying a gas can. We're here, we're clear, get used to it!
Just exactly what did you think Palin was referring to in Wisconsin when she said, "It starts here, it starts now - Mr President, GAME ON!"

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.22.11 @ 11:44AM

Jrd,
thank you. Very good points.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 12:18PM

Rove, Rollins and Morris would benefit as much as other conservative commentators would from a Palin victory unless she pushes for her own version of the Fairness Doctrine (proof she's the worst form of populist).

Having watched Rove on Palin he's definitely not in panic mode. Those of us who want to win and crush Obama are worried, because she's thin on experience and leadership and Obama despite his shortcomings can now use that against her effectively in a general election where nearly 60% of the people oppose her.

"Palin has an army of David's willing to follow her through the gates of hell carrying a gas can. We're here, we're clear, get used to it!" That's while she stands a serious chance of being our McGovern in a year we should win big.

Before people start comparing her to Reagan against Carter she's NOT REAGAN and nothing like him. Reagan had a solid record leadership in business and politics (both in the Democrat and Republican Parties).

Patrick| 8.23.11 @ 6:58PM

"Palin has an army of David's willing to follow her through the gates of hell carrying a gas can. We're here, we're clear, get used to it!"

And if another excellent qualified conservative is our nominee, will you help the effort? Say a Bachmann or a Perry? And if not, why not?
The "Palin or bust" attitude is disturbing.

Dai Alanye | 8.22.11 @ 10:33AM

Let's keep one thing in mind. If McCain's campaign had handled Sarah properly much of the criticism she got wouldn't have appeared.

If he'd sent her on Fox and talk radio instead of starting her with CBS, and if he'd unleashed Sarah and Todd on Michigan instead of dropping the state she'd have been a bigger hit and done McCain more good. If the operatives had spent less time picking out her wardrobe and withheld the "going rogue" comments the media would have had fewer negatives to work with.

Sarah running her own campaign her own way can't help but be better than what happened in 2008.

Ryan Rupe| 8.22.11 @ 10:44AM

It is simple: whether you like her or not she simply can't win the general election. A solid majority of Americans will not vote for her under any circumstance whatsoever. They will either not vote or hold their noses and select Obama because they can't stand the idea of having her as President. In the end it means a loss not only at the top of the ticket but further down the ballot in other federal and state elections. If we end up losing in 2012 against a President with a 40% approval rating we simply don't deserve to compete at all.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 11:50AM

Ryan,
Solid analysis. I think the primaries will reveal her weakness in comparison to the declared candidates and potential candidates.

My biggest fear she'll empower Romney if she stays in too long, because people will flock to him (as they did McCain) as the anti-Palin who can win. We don't need a repeat of 2008 where Huckabee and Rudy helped McCain against Romney (his year).

R Martin| 8.22.11 @ 11:52AM

Spot on.

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:17PM

Thread winner, right here.

George S| 8.22.11 @ 10:50AM

If I was Palin, I wouldn't announce -- I'd wait until the convention. By that time the chances are good that Romney or Bachmann or Perry will not have cornered the delegates and it may come down to an old-fashioned back room deal by the delegates. For the first time in decades, the candidate may be called at the convention. If you can avoid the blood letting of the primaries -- which only suck the political life out of a candidate -- and jump in when called, that, I think, is the best possible scenario.

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 12:01PM

That would make it an interesting convention, but don't underestimate Romney coming out on top in such an event. Republicans tend to like a safe bet over bluffing.

irish19| 8.22.11 @ 1:25PM

Romney would be a safe bet for another 2008. Nothing more.

simon templar| 8.22.11 @ 11:22AM

Where are the trolls? Come on...the word, Palin has been spoken. Are they all on vacation in Cuba?

AgentRose| 8.22.11 @ 11:24AM

Unfortunately I believe she is getting ready to run and help destroy the Republican field. Palin is not a heavyweight. She is frivolous and constantly "teases" the press. No wonder they can't stand her. Are some of the things she says good? Yes, but that could be true of almost anyone. She has no gravitas and no matter how she spins it she did quit as Governor. WE NEED RYAN!!!

Michael Tomlinson| 8.22.11 @ 12:11PM

Paul Ryan would be a good candidate, but his Medicare plan is not popular and Obama/Democrats would beat him with it and being a nice and respectful guy isn't going to win the White House next year. If he runs and gets fixated on his plan and defending it he loses (70% of self-identified Tea Party members oppose Ryan's plan as does 80% of the general population).

It is going to be bare knuckles election (Obama's already made that clear) and our candidate must be ready for a hard fight, but with an easy campaign style that is winsome and down to earth. Perry has got it in spades like Reagan.

Cerebral (Paul Ryan may have the brightest mind in politics aside from Newt), but that isn't going to cut it in 2012.

If Ryan can shake the T-Paw Heavy personality and white bread upper Midwest image he'd have a better chance of winning. Despite The Weekly Standards fawning obsession he's not ready for the national stage -- yet.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 2:33PM

Wait a minute. Sarah has no gravitas?? Thanks for the laugh!

Kingofthenet| 8.22.11 @ 2:52PM

You look up 'gravitas' in the dictionary, there is a picture of Sarah!

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:22PM

How so? She quit. She couldn't hack it. That's not how I define guts. Scott Walker facing down unions in blue WI? THAT'S guts. Christie facing down teachers in NJ? Guts. Paul Ryan plan? Guts. Bachman (who I don't support, BTW) sticking to her guns in the House? Guts. Perry calling Bernake treasonous? Guts. Sarah's I-got-shafted and will-I-won't-I? Not so much.

marco| 8.23.11 @ 10:36PM

Bravo, bravo, bravo! I'm surprised more people aren't put off by this interminable on-again, off-again crap of Palin's. And, if able to make the decision to run, has anyone noticed that while the three major candidates all run close with Obama, Palin gets wiped out by 20 points?

Conserdude| 8.22.11 @ 12:33PM

There is a lot to admire and like about Sarah Palin, who took on the Alaska GOP corrupt establishment and won. She was a capable governor, albeit for only 30 months.

Then she quit.

Her act of quitting will be her albatross in pursuit of the presidency should she enter the race. If she jumps in now, she'll lose the primary. Rick Perry is a far better choice, as is Paul Ryan, should the latter enter.

She is not ready to be president. She lacks substance and is too full of soundbites. At 47, she's got plenty of time to run in the future. In the meantime, she should assist the GOP in defeating Obama next year, and get a serious, high profile job in that administration that will better prepare her for her own run in the future.

Mike Hawk| 8.22.11 @ 2:56PM

SHe did not quit. She was driven from office by Liberal Democrats filing ethics complaints one after the other till the burden became unsustainable. She would have had to fund the defenses herself and indeed had to pay thousands before it became too much. The RINO establishment did not back her either (read that as Sen Lisa Murkowski/ uber-RINO). Gov. Palin was driven out and is now extracting her revenge. Paybacks are a MF if you are a Lib and Sarah deserved better. She is fearless.

emo| 8.22.11 @ 10:37PM

She quit thanks to a ethics bill that she herself signed into law.

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:25PM

Aw, poor Sarah. The Presidency is a much tougher gig than being an AK guv with lawsuits. She couldn't hack it then, she can't hack it now. If she wants to prove otherwise, then tell her to get in the race. Put herself all in, state her positions as a CANDIDATE, not as a celebrity.

Patrick| 8.23.11 @ 7:01PM

"SHe did not quit. She was driven from office by Liberal Democrats filing ethics complaints one after the other ..."

Fine. Can she tackle being President then, with liberal Democrats attacking her day after day?

Palin wont get annointed. She will face this and many other questions as a candidate. If she can handle the gauntlet, then it will prove her able to handle being President. If she cant, then its better she doesnt run.

JimH| 8.22.11 @ 12:41PM

Bill Buckley said support the most conservative electable candidate. The devil, at least with the current group of candidates is determining who that is.

Patrick| 8.23.11 @ 7:02PM

Both Perry and Bachmann are in spitting distance of Obama in latest Gallup poll.

Actually Perry was EVEN, at 47/47.

Pat D| 8.22.11 @ 12:44PM

Ryan's much touted budget plan really doesn't do much to address the unfunded liabilities of the big three - Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. I don't see any executive experience in his resume. That might not bother Washington insiders, but it is a major short-coming. He's T-paw without the executive experience.

Seek| 8.22.11 @ 1:19PM

Kudos for Robert Stacy McCain for waking up to the fact that Sarah Palin's hardcore followers have a dangerous messianic streak that precludes all reasoning. And she does nothing to discourage them. Like a true demagogue, she bonds with the most hysterical voices in her camp, whle inciting the siege mentality of the Enemy All Around Us.

I doubt she'll run. She's not nearly as popular as her supporters make her out to be. And her campaign staff is almost nonexistent -- who would want to work for someone like that? If she does declare her candidacy, her chances of getting the GOP nomination, at best, would be about 10 percent.

Duesouth| 8.22.11 @ 1:20PM

Romney just feels like Bush's third term. As far as experience goes....I think I've experienced enough of what experienced politicians have done. I hope she runs. Me and my pocket book are ready for a fight.

Dennis| 8.22.11 @ 1:24PM

I love Sarah but I prefer Perry to run against Obama. I'm afraid that the MSM will spend so much time trying to destroy her that she won't get her message out. I think Perry has the best chance to beat the would-be King...

Patrick| 8.23.11 @ 7:04PM

Dittos - Rick Perry is the best combination of experience, campaign toughness, conservative vision/agenda, and a record that that put Obama to shame.

back talk| 8.22.11 @ 1:53PM

Sarah Palin can draw a crowd. That is all she has proven in the past three years.

Conservatives don't stop and realize there is another, bigger crowd of people who will vote against her.

She has also demonstrated a willingness to quit under fire - her job as governor.

She has also been proven to be a mother of a teen age daughter who ignored her advice. If, in fact, Palin gave it.

Seventeen, drunk and promiscuous. You don't get pregnant sober, chaste and well brought up.

Recent article quotes Bristol as saying the night her baby was conceived she was "so drunk she was not aware she was having unprotected sex."

If you are are not a good mother, it really doesn't matter what else you are good at. "Good", by way of definition here, means "effective". Ask any mother of four, if at the end of a busy day, she has time to be President of theUnited States. Of course, first you have to find a mother of four who isn't already farming them all out to Day Care. Until they are old enough to be latch-key kids.

Sarah Palin's resume is she was a governor of a state with a population of 647,500. Most everyone reading this lives in or close to a city with more people than that. Los Angeles has 9,862,049. If the mayor of any big city ran, we would say, "How is he qualified?" And yet Sarah gets on her bus, draws a crowd and no one ever questions her actual qualifications for governing. Her qualification is this: she was chosen to counter the "old age" seediness of John McCain, spark interest and win the election.. And she couldn't do that.

If you listen to her speeches - it all comes down to, "I stood up against Exxon. . .

But she did not stand up against criticism and lawsuits.

Why were there so many lawsuits against her? It seems odd in a state mostly populated by caribou.

If she becomes the candidate, you can kiss the election goodbye. She cannot handle personal attacks. She will spend all her time whining, "Leave my children alone."

What message has Bristol really sent to promiscuous - - no, make that "sexually active" teens? Have a baby out of wedlock (quaint word) and you may get on Dancing With The Stars and your face on the cover of PEOPLE magazine. Or at least , that it is perfectly OK.

It is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is a fact. A woman cannot be a full time mother and a full time anything else - - not if she wants to call it mothering. Her children are going to suffer. A good mother would have told Bristol, "No, you are not going on Dancing With the Stars. Having an illegitimate baby does not make you a star." Permissiveness won again.

As an aside, I note of late, those opposed to Michelle Obama, (and I am certainly one) criticize her for allowing her daughter to walk with her head bowed down. Not correcting her kid's posture!
And yet, Sarah Palin gets a pass for not being able to communicate to her daughter a pretty important bit of advice.

wodiej| 8.22.11 @ 5:50PM

Wow, so Palin is a bad mom because her kid got into trouble? How many kids listen to advice from anyone? I guess that makes all Mom's bad then eh? You don't know squat about Palin.

cowgirl| 8.22.11 @ 2:05PM

Sarah Palin has more power than the President of the United States. Everytime she says something or writes something the left goes into complete meltdown for days. Go Sarah. Keep them fuming. It is a blast to watch.

Kingofthenet| 8.22.11 @ 2:26PM

What is the 'Lamestreet' media gonna say, when Sarah is measuring the drapes in the White House, and huntin Moose at the National Zoo! This is gonna be better than when Jed Clampett's struck oil and moved to Beverly...Hills that is

Seek| 8.22.11 @ 2:54PM

About the only thing Sarah Palin will be measuring come January 2013 is her brassiere size. Face it: She's very unpopular among all but the True Believers. And there just aren't enough of the latter to deliver any more than a handful of primaries, if even that much.

Mike Hawk| 8.22.11 @ 2:57PM

You are an (__!__)

Boar Hunter| 8.22.11 @ 3:20PM

Mike! Brother that was hilarious! It took me a minute to get it. I was trying to fill in the blanks and not looking lol.

Seek| 8.22.11 @ 5:25PM

Sarah Palin hasn't been victimized by the "lamestream" media. She traffics in resentment of media and other "elites" because, in the end, that's all she has to offer. Some will vote for her on that basis alone. Most won't.

As an aside, bend over.

Mike Hawk| 8.22.11 @ 9:13PM

Well, Boar Hunter, he just proved my point.

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.22.11 @ 2:51PM

Sarah shoots Moose, and Perry shoots cayotes.
One thing about it, we would have the most fun election cycle in a long time. Go Sarah,Go Rick.

Drive the MSM insane.

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 3:06PM

A whole lotta rootin', tootin', n' shootin' goin' on.

CommonSense| 8.22.11 @ 3:41PM

Anyone who would vote for this fool as President is as deluded as an Obama voter.

Given the emerging choices from the GOP, the founding fathers are spinning in their graves.

This country seems to be channeling the roman empire and we seem to keep coming up with candidates like Caligula.

Pat D| 8.22.11 @ 3:56PM

Read this Palin FB post and tell me she is no match for Obama. Any GOP candidate should read it and memorize it.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/.....3315368434

CommonSense| 8.22.11 @ 4:38PM

Who cares? One idiot replacing another? The founding fathers have stopped spinning and started laughing...but it's a sad laugh...like they've given up waiting for us to act mature, and actually pick adults as President.

rdman| 8.22.11 @ 4:05PM

Palin has been six moves ahead of the Establish RINOs and their Stalker Trolls on her political chessboard… now the Stalkers are re-evaluating their positions… LMAO!!!

Palin’s endorsement of Perry was for his re-election campaign for governor, which also got a few people riled up and excited which in turn encouraged Perry to announce and run.

Perry has been attacking Romney which will initially pull some support from a wounded Romney. However, Perry has a lot of warts and skeletons which will be exposed during a brutal vetting process and Palin knows this. Once Perry’s history is fully exposed, he will lose support.

Palin was also disappointed that Pawlenty dropped out… a three-way Establishment good-old-boy’s squabble would have been better. Bachmann, a very good person and Conservative will likely become a flash-in-the-pan.

Its all about timing and Palin’s timing and strategic instincts has been impeccable. As Perry begins to lose support and before Romney recovers from being badly wounded by Perry, look for Palin to jump in.

Palin has been vetted for the last 2-1/2 years, has thrived and grown stronger with her Tea party grass roots base. The voters are already growing sick and tired of all the negative dirty campaigning between the candidates and all the silly debate talking-points and negative political ads.

At this point, Palin will arrive… fresh, joyful, positive, polished, authentic, genuine, beautiful with all that gravitas and the Tea Party grass roots solidly behind her, greeting the survivor candidates as she handled Joe Plugs (remember that??)…

GAME ON, folks… Palin/Rubio 2012

Margie| 8.22.11 @ 4:15PM

Wow. Now that was amazing.
I've always said~ if Sarah throws her hat into the ring~ all bets are off!!

Seek| 8.22.11 @ 5:20PM

Palin can leave her hat on. Her act is stale. She's going nowhere.

rdman| 8.22.11 @ 9:17PM

You've only seen a preview. You would do well to hang onto your own hat!!

wodiej| 8.22.11 @ 5:45PM

Well said.

somnolence| 8.22.11 @ 5:42PM

I would really like to see all the prominent detractors of Palin, including Matthew, Beckel, Will, Judy Miller, etc. see how much false bravado they maintain by trying to foil her on issues. When she announces let's see how brave they really are then. I noticed in another magazine blog today that someone insists that evidence of a slush fund was found in 300 some odd of the infamous e-mails that really found nothing sinister. Go ahead with it if she runs. Just remember she will whip the hell out of the Obama-Holder Justice Department everyday for running guns to the Mexican drug lords. So, game on!

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:35PM

She's great on issues. If that was all, I'd vote for her in a heartbeat. It's her lack of popularity with Indies, and we need the Indies to defeat Obama. It's her quitting her governorship midway when things got tough. It's her coy, risk-free ala Princess Di game-playing/victim card/look at me! with the media. And yes, it's her shrill voice. She is UNELECTABLE in the general.

All that said, if she wins the nom, I will vote for her. I won't like it, but I'll do it.

wodiej| 8.22.11 @ 5:43PM

It wouldn't matter if Gov. Palin walked on water, her critics would still find something wrong with her. The author of the article sounds like he did a whiny follow up to baby Quin.

Palin has been relentlessly trying to rally support for people to pay attention to their own damn freedoms being stolen right under their noses. And not just by liberals but by people in their own party that they support for president but she gets no credit-just insulting remarks that she's a celebrity. Let me tell you something, if she doesn't run or doesn't win the only reason will be because we have way too many ignorant people in this country who wouldn't support her and what she stands for.

weaverofdreams_2000| 8.22.11 @ 6:46PM

The posts in this place convince me that Obama could win the vote of every single intelligent and reasonable person in the United States...and still lose the election!

God help America!

Cheers!

Kingofthenet| 8.22.11 @ 5:46PM

Palin/Bolton=DREAM TICKET!

weaverofdreams_2000| 8.22.11 @ 6:47PM

As per above,
The posts in this place convince me that Obama could win the vote of every single intelligent and reasonable person in the United States...and still lose the election!

God help America!

Cheers!

idalily| 8.22.11 @ 11:37PM

Impossible. No intelligent and reasonable person would vote for Obama. Have you SEEN the economy numbers?

somnolence| 8.22.11 @ 5:48PM

Palin as a parent calling out all those who denigrate her offspring is really no different than Harry S. Truman threatening to inflict soprano syndrome on a music critic who derided Margaret's singing. She has a right to do so, and in that sense, would, like I say, point out all the false bravado from the naysayers. Those who say she is part of a Caligulan bacchanalia have nothing more to go on than rapturous self-assurance more than likely aided by two olive martinis and expensive Scotch.

Kingofthenet| 8.22.11 @ 6:11PM

Joe 6 pack is VERY anti-intellectual, Sarah needs to tap into that well of sour grapes and rail against so called 'experts'. She could call them 'eggheads' and ask questions that Average Joe can relate too, like: If we came from a monkey, how come there still monkeys around?, and since it will be November, she could say something, like How's that Global Warming working out for you, Brrrrr. She can also insult Steven Hawkings, saying if he was so smart, why can't he cure his sickness? than roll her eyes.

Seek| 8.22.11 @ 6:42PM

The answer: We didn't come from monkeys. Obviously, you don't grasp the basics of genetic evolution. In any event, it's not the job of a presidential candidate to hurl personal insults at leading scientists. That sort of populist taunting should get a lot of people riled up, and not just "elitists."

weaverofdreams_2000| 8.22.11 @ 7:12PM

There are so may things on here I find hilarious, I hardly know where to begin.

The derogatory references to "Paulistas" by supporters of Palin maybe tops it, not least because the attachment of the suffix to the end of the last name was first used to apply to the fanatical supporters of Palin. The irony, the irony...If she were to get in her support would be found to be about the same -- a mile deep and an inch wide. Ron Paul actually sounds remarkably sane in comparison.

If Palin gets in, it will bring a big smile to Romney's face -- it will carve up the Teaparty/evangelical vote three ways. He isn't getting much of their vote one way or the other, regardless of how much he feigns support for some of their causes. He will just sit back, as he has so far, and give non-answers and poke sticks in Obama's eyes when it's opportune, and let Perry, Bachmann and Palin eat each other. What a menage a trois.

If Palin gets in she is delusional. On many counts. But if she does, that will just confirm my suspicions about her. She lives in a Neverland of her own construct (bring any other delusional celebrities to mind?), one which is built on Twitter - the place where narcissists meet voyeurs with no life. Mind you, given that some of the posters on here seem to spend their entire day in this echo chamber commenting back on forth on the articles.. get a life. With all this time on your hands, apparently, go out and do something to help your community!

Finally, the one thing I love about Palin is how wonderfully she makes the MSM -- call it what you will -- look like fools. She regularly humiliates them, derides them and abuses them -- yet they can't stop themselves from hanging on her every self-serving and self-centred word. Talk about fools. They just help her make money. That is all she really wants, having been brought up in a garbage dump and with the morals of a rat (nicely passed on to sa filles -- son seems like a decent chap -- but of course he got out of the rat's nest and joined the army). They should just ignore her and let her retire to the rubbish bin of history where she belongs.

Cheers!

Ken (Old Texican)| 8.22.11 @ 7:38PM

Weaver,
You are such a slut. Thank you for exposing your skanky thighs here. Now we will know when to use our scroll button.

Pat D| 8.23.11 @ 12:00AM

You got one thing almost right.

"Finally, the one thing I love about Palin is how wonderfully she makes the MSM -- call it what you will -- look like fools. She regularly humiliates them, derides them and abuses them -- yet they can't stop themselves from hanging on her every self-serving and self-centred word. Talk about fools. "

That's a start. Takes some smarts to outwit the MSM. But I don't think she is doing it for herself. She talks about a servant's heart and I believe her. I'm an atheist but I know what she means. It comes from Christianity, a force for good in the world. She wants to serve, not rule.

scythe| 8.22.11 @ 7:16PM

If she runs, we get Obama for another 4 years. That's just a fact. AS much as she is loved but many, it is not enough to win. If she hasn't figured that out yet, then she is incapable of leading this country. If she has, ditto.

Pat D| 8.23.11 @ 12:44AM

Obama is dead meat. He can't do what he needs to do to recover. Even crazy Ron Paul would beat him. \

emo| 8.22.11 @ 10:33PM

Ive noticed since Perry got in, Rove has really been pushing Palin. Perry and Palin split the conservative vote and Rove's favourite Romney wins the nomination.

POST American| 8.22.11 @ 11:58PM

-------------------BOTTOM LINE-----------------------

The Murdoch FAKE front Globalist FOX
novelty act 'Que Sera, Sera' Sarah Pail--in
and 'ME---Shall BALK---MEN'.

And speaking of 'men' ---where ARE the MEN?

As we sit on the very eve of hosting the CFR's
'fave' creditor regime ---as our very own resident 'enforcers'
--------------WHERE in hell are the MEN?

--------------------------------WHERE???

Pat D| 8.23.11 @ 12:23AM

Perry and Romney will duke it out, encouraged by the media, which will run every negative story it can against the presumptive GOP leader. Once the MSM has done its dirty work, Palin will enter the fray. Alley cat or Arctic fox? Same difference.

Moancler Jackets Outlet | 8.23.11 @ 1:11PM

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back talk| 8.23.11 @ 4:40PM

wodiej - whatever - - I DIDN'T SAY SHE WAS A BAD MOM. I SAID SHE WAS AN INEFFECTIVE MOM AND PROBABLY INATTENTIVE - IF HER 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WENT "CAMPING" WITH HER BOYFRIEND. HOW DID IT ESCAPE HER ATTENTION THAT LEVI WAS SUCH A LOW RENT KIND OF KID?

EVERY INEFFECTIVE MOTHER IN THE UNITED STATES IS NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OR THINKING ABOUT IT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ELECTABILITY - NOT WHETHER I THINK SARAH IS A GOOD MOTHER OR NOT.

ONLY FATHERS SKATE FREE OF PARENT RESPONSIBILITY WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTABILITY.

THAT DRUNK, TED KENNEDY GOT ELECTED OVER AND OVER WITH THAT MILLSTONE (STONED) PATRICK AROUND HIS NECK.

AL GORE'S KIDS HAD BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS.

ROBERT KENNEDY'S , TOO.

RONALD REAGAN HAD THE FEY, RON, JR. - WHO IS STILL BAD-MOUTHING HIS DAD BEYOND THE GRAVE. THE CRAZY PATTY DECIDED TO MAKE A BUCK OFF HER "RECONCILIATION" WITH DAD ON HIS DEATH BED AND HAS BEEN A PERFECT DAUGHTER TO THE DECEASED .

GEORGE W. BUSH'S DAUGHTERS HAVE A DRINK IN A BAR AND THE TABLOIDS AND MSM ARE ALL OVER IT - - AND YOU THINK PALIN WILL SURVIVE A CAMPAIGN WITH BRISTOL'S HISTORY?

A WOMAN POLITICIAN WILL NOT MAKE IT THROUGH A CAMPAIGN WITHOUT A LOT OF CRITICISM OF HER ABANDONING HER RESPONSIBILITY OF MOTHERHOOD TO HER OWN AMBITION..

"LEAVE MY KIDS ALONE' AND BUILDING HIGH FENCES WILL NOT WORK IF SHE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT.

I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR BACHMANN, EITHER - AND I AM NOT ANTI-WOMAN.

I THOUGHT JEAN KIRKPATRICK WOULD HAVE MADE A GOOD PRESIDENT. I DO NOT BELIEVE SHE WAS ENCUMBERED BY HUSBAND OR CHILDREN.

YOU ARE PROBABLY SAYING, WHO'S JEAN KIRKPATRICK? GOOGLE IT.

JEAN KIRKPATRICK WOULD NOT HAVE KICKED OFF A CAMPAIGN SPEECH BY SAYING "FIRST OF ALL, LET'S WISH A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELVIS PRESLAYYYYY, YAY!" COMMEMORATING THE DAY HE DIED, WHILE SITTING ON THE TOILET, DRUGGED OUT OF HIS HEAD.

WHAT KIND OF THINKING GOES INTO WISHING DEADELVIS PRESLEY A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVEN IF IT WERE HIS BIRTHDAY?

ltw| 8.23.11 @ 5:49PM

Gov Palin is smart to let Rep. Bachmann and Gov. Perry (the two candidates she endorsed in their last run for elected office) get out of the chutes and define themselves and their campaigns. I would think she doesn't want to be at the early September debate as Gov. Perry will begin to debate. America has already seen Gov. Palin debate (Biden) on the presidential ticket. It's fine with me to let the other candidates get in and focus on each other before they start focusing on her. Really smart move to let the other candidates define themselves in her absence from debates, so she will be seen as a distinct presidential candidate from them...not a person who endorsed them in their races. Each candidate needs to run on their own record, including Gov. Palin. I think she's confident she has a good record to run on, irregardless of the resignation after 2 1/2 years in the office of governor of Alaska.

Yes, I think she will run, but will not be crushed if she doesn't. No, I don't think she is the messiah.

TheRightIsAnythingBut| 8.23.11 @ 7:50PM

Is Sarah Palin willing to take a pay cut to run for, and God help us, win the Presidency?

back talk| 8.23.11 @ 9:00PM

CRONY - dictionary definition: close companion.

Pat D's definition: someone you are sharing the spoils of politics with.

Pat- you are running for Governor. Several astute, affluent business men support your candidacy, recognizing your fairness, honesty and judgment. They make money contributions to your campaign because they want you to win.

The bond of friendship is mutual. You also respect them as knowledgeable, successful businessmen and you are grateful for their support.

You win the election.

In the course of governing, you make decisions that are good for your state, good for the people and favorable to the businessmen who supported you - not payback for supporting you, but because they are the right decisions.

Are they now your "cronies"?

Should you have made a poor decision for your state, so as not to be seen favoring "cronies"?

What kind of idiot would you be, to be doing things favorable to anti-capitalism liberals if that is not your political philosophy and you don't have a death wish, politically?

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