In what is likely to be seen as the first step towards a 2012 run, Gov. Palin has launched SarahPAC.
Not much there right now, of course, as it has just gone live. However, every dedicated 2012 watcher should probably head on over and sign up for the email updates which will tide us over until the fun really begins.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:14 am
On the road to inevitability in 2012 and the Dems are scared.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:17 am
BTW, thanks for the heads up on this JA Pruce.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:20 am
three potential candidates , three different PACs- HUCKpac, SARAHpac, and Free and Strong AmericaPAC.
so tell me who is full of themselves and who isnt?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Yes, we should all be grateful to JA Pruce for keeping us informed. Ironically, if by chance I end up joining the Romney camp instead of the Palin camp, JA Pruce will deserve some of the credit. He has informed me of some of Mr. Romney’s good policies.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:30 am
JA Pruce,
You CANNOT be serious. You sound sooo freaking ridiculous. Dems are NOT scared. They laugh at her. Like, a lot. They think she’s an idiot and each passing day since she appeared on the national scene only gave them more reasons to suspect they are right. People call you a troll, but you’re not a troll. You’re just the most tone-deaf person on here.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:30 am
#3 – All politicians are full of themselves. Especially ones that run for president.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Pruce the Seer who prophecied the inevitable election of McCain with every poll that came out showing McCain losing, now prophecies the inevitability of Palin.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:31 am
#5 – Come on. Pruce helps all of us. Whenever he predicts anything, you know the opposite will ALWAYS, ALWAYS be true.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Another example:
“I could see a Palin/Thompson ticket doing really well nationally. Regardless, if Sarah runs, I don’t think Thompson will – he will likely defer to Palin and I could see his wife Jeri running Palin’s campaign. One irony – George Allen’s campaign team became the skeleton for Fred’s campaign team which could become the campaign team for Palin.”
January 27th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I hope they underestimate her, I hope all of the possible Republican candidates underestimate her. Are people so inept to believe that she is not going to do her homework, that she’s not going to be ready?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Is SarahPac taking donations of bleach so that she can meet all the requirements of the blond jokes?
January 27th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Is she even capable? I don’t know. But it’s a fair question.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:44 am
JA Pruce was the one saying that we should make Michael Steele or JC Watts VP because blacks would support the ticket. LOL.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:45 am
No problem, Kavon.
Thanks Ohio, like I have said many times, if there is one problem we have it that we have a too many great candidates to choose from, all of whom could have enormous success nationally, and sometimes its difficult to decide. Like you, I remain uncommitted at this moment, waiting to see how things play out and who in fact makes the leap. We could do a lot worse than the incredible talent featured on the left side of this screen. My hunch tells me that we will know who the nominee is before one vote is even cast in the primary and that 2012 will be a very expedited primary with an obvious favorite. If Sarah runs a McKinley/Bush style virtual front porch strategy leading up to 2012, she could be very formidable.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Sarahpac. What a dumb name.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:54 am
“That’s why I say, I, like every American I’m speaking with, we’re ill about this position that we have been put in, where it is the taxpayers looking to bailout. But, ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the… It’s gotta be all about job creation too, shoring up our economy and putting it on the right track. So, health care reform and reducing taxes and reigning in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans and trade. We’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing, but one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation, this bailout is a part of that.”
More to come. Yipee.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Alex – thanks for that reminder. Brings back fond memories of laughing hysterically at his bigotry.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Better name: Joe Six PAC
January 27th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Hoo boy. I can hardly wait for all the spleen venting to welcome this announcement…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:58 am
#18, omg that is brilliant! Maybe if you were working for her campaign you could raise the collective IQ at least 40 points.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Alex #18 – perhaps the most brilliant comment ever made on this site.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Why is Sarah on the cover? Is her PAC about America, or Sarah?
January 27th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
It’s about you, Martha M.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Wow Martha, I gotta say you’re hot!
January 27th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
#22 – I actually kinda like the banner. I like the logo with Alaska superimposed onto the mainland. Not that it’s gonna get me to back her, but I like it.
I’m just looking forward to her sure-to-be-humorous input during the debates.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Good Sarah, get things going and prove your worth for the office.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I would still prefer that Palin go for another term as governor then run for the senate. Why are so many of your comments so narrow minded? It seems that because of where she lives and that she is not from an ivy league social group, that she is from a more middle america social group, she is fair game for vitriolic and snide comments. Oh I forgot y’all believe all the MSM vitriolic comments about her during the election, like her $150,000 wardrobe shopping spree.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Palin is the process of stealing the alternative/renawable energy issue from the dems and Obama without the use of government mandates. She’s going to be pretty bold the last two years in office, whether you believe for personal ambition or actual altruism, but expect to hear a lot of good stuff from Alaska the last two years.
I don’t think she can do it, but Alaska currently is the only state in America not in a recession though the recession is predicted to hit the last frontier; if she can keep the state out of the recession, especially with low oil prices, then that’ll be another feather in her cap. Remember, Romney fans, nothing he does in the next three years will have any impact on anyone’s lives (neither will Huck). The only people that will be making decisions that impact people’s lives are governors and Senators/Congresspersons.
Alaska may be one of the few states that doesn’t take any earmarks from the Obama spending plan (they’ll just take money from the existing formulas); whether you think that she turned down $400 million for political rather than principled reasons, the fact is she did and others didn’t turn down earmarked money. It’s on record that she turned down earmarks and others didn’t.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Of course, her fund-raising prowess for the 2010 GOP congressional campaign will show whether she’s viable in 2012. I’d rather see her run AK for a second term, though.
Maybe she’ll turnip in Iowa. Then we’ll know what she’s planning.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Lets see. Two of the three are named after the egos. the other….. Oh well.
Sara is a sure loser for the GOP. Go ahead. Run the bimbo. We’ve lost is all already. She could not evencarry the womans vote. geeze. What a maroonette.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
She doesn’t need the MSM to paint her as stupid, she does that just fine on her own. I think she would be a fine senator, certainly much better than Simpson. But she is a gauranteed failure in a general presidential election. It is utter foolishness for the party to get behind her.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Prediction: she’ll endorse the Sarah Steeleman types and possibly some conservative/blue dog dems in non-competitive races (e.g. Heath Schuler, Dan Boren). Steeleman will be a marker for Palin in my opinion; their political biographies and narratives are so similar that if Steelman is able to upset Blunt and then beat the strongest candidate that the dems could run in Missouri in Carnahan, then that’s probably a sign that the party is yearning for an anti-establishment candidate and that Obama is hurting conservative dems in swing states such as Missouri.
A hold against Carnhan in Missouri would be pretty earth-shattering in my opinion. I expect both so-called moderates (Kirk will defeat Burris, Castle will defeat Biden) and so-called conservatives (Steelman, Portman, and Kansas will hold against conservative dems) to have a good 2010, which will create more discussion in the party about how to win elections.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I’ve got to agree with Wim M. about the professionalism of Sarah’s site. The presentation is first rate and logo/wordmark are qualitative and smart. This shows that Sarah is serious about her organization and potential candidacy and that she is readying for her battle with the Obama juggernaut. Bravo.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
If I were an Alaskan, I’d hope she declares independence to opt out of Obamanation. I’d hate to see the last outpost of the frontier mentality die the miserable death it has in the Lower 48.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
This is an awful PAC name considering PalinPAC sounds a lot better.
Who is advising this woman? She is a weapon that we can use for a decade or longer if she’s branded correctly.
This better be good.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Sara is a sure loser for the GOP. Go ahead. Run the bimbo. We’ve lost is all already. She could not evencarry the womans vote. geeze. What a maroonette.
1) Calling her a bimbo is inappropriate
2) Women don’t always carry the woman’s vote. Women don’t vote for women just because they’re women, you know. And oftentimes, women hold other women to a higher standard.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
It’s not up to the GOP to get behind her; it’s up to the voters. It seems that people on this site really have a distate for the electorate and they want the dems version of the superdelegates to choose candidates. If she wins, it’ll be because the voters cast their ballots for her over everyone else. Voters decide elections, not the party establishment. The GOP establishment seems to be coalescing behind Jindal, and Romney, less so.
Why the distate for the electorate? They picked the right candidate in my opinion this year in John McCain. Of course, I’m one of the few people left in the blogosphere who love both McCain and Palin. I’ll take the guy who put his career on the line to support the surge anyday; even better yet in my opinion is that Palin is opposed to ethanol subsidies just as McCain is. Will Palin be the first candidate ever to win Iowa without schilling for ethanol? That’d be pretty cool.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I like how she borrowed Obama’s softness and fonts.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
There’s the ticket to being out of power for a generation….
January 27th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
If Romney runs in 2012 (which is still an open question), the primary could shape up to be much like the 2000 GOP contest with Palin playing the part of Bush and Romney playing the part of McCain (and yes Romney has the potential to win, especially if he runs strong in California, so I’m not counting him out or saying that the contest will mirror 2000 exactly). But, Palin could win Iowa big, then Romney could win N.H. and then it all comes down to S.C. with Romney grabbing Arizona and Michigan just as McCain did in 2000. But if Palin wins S.C., she will likely win as almost all past nominees have. Thus, it is paramount for Romney’s chances to employ Sanford or Demint as “stalking horses” in S.C. – regardless, it should be interesting.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Everything Sarah does from here on out will be designed to appeal to Rush and co. If that helps Alaska, great. But let’s not kid ourselves about her motivations. In her past life she was queen of pork and left Wasilla 20 mil in debt for a sports complex. (Which is still in eminent domain litigation due to Palin getting the cart before the horse thus costing extra millions in legal fees). In the campaign she railed on Wall Street and called for more regulation, and walking across the aisle “to get something done for the people of this great nation, also!”. Under public pressure, she was forced to change her mind about the bridge to nowhere, but kept the 400 mil for it anyway.
She’s going to have to do an about face from many of her own statments during the campaign, although, to her benefit, most are incomprehensible. (People from Alaska say she does that on purpose to avoid having to actually answer a question.)
She is going to plow through the door, and not blink. Unfotunatley, her ego is writing checks her brain can’t cash.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I think that Rush is in the mood to play kingmaker (or “queenmaker”). After sitting out much of the 2008 cycle and staying neutral, Rush was no less influential, even influencing the Democrat primary with his “Operation Chaos.” But Rush could be credited with putting GW Bush over the top against McCain in 2000 and if he comes out early in support for Sarah as he did for Bush, that could elevate her candidacy into near certain victory. If other commentators such as Hannity, Levin and Laura Ingrahm follow suit Sarah will be hard to topple. One interesting side note will be who Glen Beck (a devout Mormon and Romney fan) ultimately ends up supporting – lately he has been signaling support for Sarah – if he explicitly endorses her it could indicate some bleeding of Romney’s Mormon base in the direction of Sarah.
January 27th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Most people when they launch a PAC have more details ready to go at the rollout other than
“I am Sarah; please send me money”
They should have delayed this until it could be a website not a posted letter.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I think that Rush is in the mood to play kingmaker (or “queenmaker”). After sitting out much of the 2008 cycle and staying neutral, Rush was no less influential, even influencing the Democrat primary with his “Operation Chaos.”
OPERATION CHAOS HAD NO EFFECT.
Let me guess: you think that PUMAs existed, too.
But Rush could be credited with putting GW Bush over the top against McCain in 2000
Actually, Bush crushed McCain. Rush was inconsequential; Bush would have won easily, anyway.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
“It’s not up to the GOP to get behind her; it’s up to the voters.” What voters would that be? She has a hard time selling to even some of the GOP, and she has ZERO chance with anyone outside of the GOP. She was a dead end this last election, and will be more so next time. She has a good shot at the primary, but CANNOT win the general.
“Why the distate for the electorate? They picked the right candidate in my opinion this year in John McCain.” No they didn’t. He was a floundering idiot in every decision he made from Palin on. He absolutely imploded in sync with the economy. He never had a plan for the economy. His ridiculous stunt of suspending his campaign was the death of his campaign.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Great point Crep!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I love that banner. Alaska is full of stunning scenery like that. It is also a great picture of a pretty lady.
Jerseyrepublican.#10:“Are people so inept to believe that she is not going to do her homework, that she’s not going to be ready?”
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched. I, for one, do not expect her to be ready. It will be a pleasant surprize if she is, but I’m not holding my breath. She has a state to govern, a re-election campaign to run, and a family with a down’s baby to mother. She has her plate full for the next six or so years. Give the lady a break.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
JA Pruce,
Actually, Glenn does not feel real comfortable with Romney. I’m a regular listener to his radio show, and after every interview with Romney, he would question his own support for him. Glenn had every opportunity to get Romney for his first show on FOX, but he decided on Palin, which, I think, says a lot.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Any honest Conservative will not run nor hide from the fact that Sarah Palin totally marred her image during the campaign. I loved her at the convention but grew majorly disheartened when I saw her performance. Now she is getting personal on the media! I have not once seen Mitt Romney lash out at the media for the attacks on his faith or anything else for that matter because he is not a petty individual and has the self discipling to rise above it.
Please, don’t keep Obama in the White House for 8 full years by supporting Palin. Just because she is Evangelical and conservative doesn’t mean she has what it takes. The media will ruin her!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Great! A bailout for Tina Fey!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Dems want her to run again so they can have so much fun with her. She will be the laughing stock of the Republican candidates. Can she not see that? Does she really want to embarrase herself and us??
Come on folks, let’s get behind someone who has a far greater chance at getting Obama out of the WHite House- Mitt Romney. No one will be able to compete with Romney’s economic credentials, which is exactly what a financially suffering America will need. It won’t matter who has been pro-life longer!
What will matter is “who can relieve the suffering.” Let’s please not divide the party by getting behind Palin. We don’t have time to wait until a year into the primary to mend emotions and unite behind the nominee. We need to unite behind him now. With Obama’s rock star status, the ground swell for promoting Mitt needs to happen NOW! Or, we will be sorry, cause Obama will stay in the White House. And it will be our fault.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
First, let me say I am cautiously pessimistic on whether Gov Palin will be ready to run in ’12. I think someone else would be better to run, and she shouldn’t be chosen for VP unless she runs for Pres and is able to seem competent in the debates. That said, a lot of the conservatives who attack her personally just frustrate me, because they are gleefully doing the work that Dems would want done.
Spencer, I believe #49 is one of the most respectful oppositions to Gov Palin I’ve seen recently. I wish many others who oppose Gov Palin would follow suit.
Alex, I appreciate #36, even though I know you vehemently oppose her.
Let’s keep it civil, but not be afraid to focus on real issues. Let a candidate rise or fall based on their abilities, not whether you can slyly insult them over and over again.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
“Most people when they launch a PAC have more details ready to go at the rollout other than
“I am Sarah; please send me money””
That would imply some thought and reason driving the bus. Give her credit for spelling the name correctly.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I am starting to get a little concerned about Glenn Beck. He had Ron Paul on the other day and said, “Sir, the more I hear you speak, the more I like you.” Uh oh. I will loose all sorts of respect for Glenn if turns the kookoo corner. By the way, Romney’s base is solid. No mormon talk show host can take that away from Romney. His people are too educated on the mans great abilities to even entertain the thought that any other entering the race can trounce him.
It’s not possible! They will not be able to stop Romney. He performs too well in debates to the point to where people cannot ignore him.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Spencer# 49 and #51 and Richard M #52,good comments. Richard your comment about Palin’s need to become competent in debates is so right.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
What is it with people needing to satisfy their own ego in a PAC name? HuckPAC? SarahPAC? Have these Christians not learned anything from the NT? I mean I flat out don’t like Huck and I’m not entirely fond of Sarah with her perceived incompetence but this turns me off. I’m loyal to a cause not a disciple following after a personality.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
If she runs–she really hurts The Huckster. Appeals to many of the same voters without the petty, mean-spirited and vindictive nature of Huckabee that so polarizes the GOP. And no crazy religious “amend the constitution to God’s Law” quackery that worries a lot of voters. Even though she may agree on the issues she doesn’t possess all of Huck’s negativity.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I’m a little bit skeptical about letting the media choose for us which candidate is acceptable and which is not. History shows that running an unabashed conservative who appeals to the base and is ridiculed by the press vs. running the media ordained, next in line, middle of the road candidate presents us with a tested strategy for winning nationally. When the Democrats and the media spot a winner, they lash out and try to destroy. Look at the most recent previous elections: Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush (two term winners) on one side vs. Bob Dole and John McCain on the other. Then extrapolate which candidates in this cycle fit the two dueling templates of success and failure. I’ve got a hint: the media don’t like the winners.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Why do some of you guys hate elections? It’s up to the voters in caucuses and primaries to determine who our nominee will be; if you don’t think Palin should be the nominee, go support someone else. All you have to do is beat her if you don’t like her; I have a suspicion though that the reason why so many are so loud in their opposition to Palin is that beating her in the caucuses/primaries is a lot tougher than it sounds.
McCain supported the surge; for that stance alone, he earns my eternal respect. His opposition to ethanol subsidies in Iowa, him being the only one of the candidates (including Romney) that was brave enough to oppose them, is another stance that endeared him to New Hampshire indies. We can get fluent in alternative energy without providing federal government subsidies or tariffs and imposing mandates.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
“When the Democrats and the media spot a winner, they lash out and try to destroy.”
JA Pruce,
Myself as well, as many other conservatives who loved Palin after her convention speech, realize that this is not the reason for the media attacks on her. She gave them the ammo they used against her. Romney doesn’t get tripped up in interviews. The only thing I recall is he said he saw his father march with Martin Luther King, which he did not mean literally and it was twisted. Palin may practice and try to prepare, but she just does not do good being questioned and in answering those questions, especially if they are questions designed to trip her up.
She won’t have the McCain camp protecting her from these interviews. She sounds like Obama on crack when she is trying to answer questions. She hardly even makes sense! After one interview I asked my wife, even after having high hopes for her, does she know what she is talking about?
But, in a way I hope she does run if Huck does as they will split the Evangelical vote and Romney will move up right past them while they are quarreling. It won’t be good for Huck or Palin if they both run.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Tommy, forget about your supicions, they are telling you nothing. The reason I don’t want Palin to get much support is because I don’t want Obama in the White House 8 years! Fine, support Palin. My belief though is that we don’t have time to wait for her to fail. The longer time we have to unite behind and promote one single candidate, the better the chances of voting for Romney.
Why, because we have an opportunity to win independents and right leaning Dems as well, especially if the economy is still on the ropes, which it very well may be in 2 years. In fact, it will be. More and more jobs are going down the drain. It isn’t getting better. I myself have felt strongly that we have to be serious about starting early and laying the ground work.
We already know everything about Romney. He has been vetted, does very well in debates, is articulate, has the greatest economic credentials, has a model family which means he has been a model husband and father, has a track record of making successes out of faltering businesses, Olympics and Massachussettes.
We don’t need to look around any further. Chris Todd stated that he thought, based on history and Mitt’s credentials, that Mitt will be the nominee come 2012. My only concern is that we will be too divided come 2012 to defeat Obama.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Spencer,
Like you I was enamored with her after her speech at the convention, and I’m still in her court, although I’ve been a little more skeptical. I thought the McCain camp did a horrible job in getting her ready when she was chosen as the V.P. They should have let her, be her, instead of trying to make her into someone she is not. Before all these interviews she had with all the pundants, the McCain camp was coaching her, and it was obvious. I think before I decied to support Romney, or Palin, I’m going to wait and see what she has to say without having the McCain camp whispering in her ear. I supported Romney in the Florida Primary, and actually went to his rally in Sarasota, so I’m definately going to keep my options open. What really sucks, is that we don’t have another conservative out there to choose from.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
2010 should tell the tale for palin…ie she could pull a romney and skip running for re-election and aim for the GOP nomination(no point running for re-election if she is gonna spend 1+ year running around the country trying to get the nomination). If a repub wins in 2012, she will either be prez or in the cabinet if she wants or if none of that pans out she could run for senate in 2014. Plan B would be to run for re-election and skip a white house run in 2012…depending on what happens in 2012, she could either join the cabinet, run for the senate in 2014 or serve out two terms and run for the white house in 2016 if a dem won in 2012…my advice would be two terms as gov, than run for the US senate in 2014…from that spot run for the white house in any open gop cycle 2016+…what do i think she will do? probably run in 2012, pols have egos you could ski down.
January 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
“Not much there right now”
…so true on many levels.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
If Palin’s not ready, it will be obvious in 2012, when she does all the inevitable debates and interviews. She will have to prove herself to people like me, who are intensely skeptical of her.
Unlike Romney, she has a ton of charisma and likability, so I wouldn’t count her out completely. She also has been softening her image (saying how we all have to give Obama a chance, etc.) and moving toward the center on environmental images, which suggests she’s politically savvy.
Personally, I think Palin should run for the Senate, and actually learn firsthand about national issues and foreign policy. It would be the next logical move, and we all know the media will cover it like the biggest thing since the Hillary run in 2000.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Rush is in no position to play kingmaker. All those guys, Hannity, Laura, Rush, etc. lost most of there power to the internet and the vast amount of opinions that are on it, around 2003-2005. They are pure entertainment now.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
#64,
Priceless.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Richard M, I appresiate your honesty in #52. I really like what Mrs. Palin stands for, but I realize that there are other Conservatives in the race and we need to consider who is best. Fortunately, many anti-Palinites are respectful in their opposition, but reading a few comments, I just shake my head and honestly wonder what Mrs. Palin did to a few people’s cornflakes so to speak. Despite his extreme loyaly to his candidate, Illinoisguy for one has been respectful to his opponents. Others are not helping with some of their shots, but hey.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Wow Flip, I agree with you. The Senate would be a great place for Palin, and she could really serve her country well there.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Ohio Joe,
I would love to see you support Romney, but I hope you choose your candidates based on standards that don’t include what their supporters are writing on the comments section of Race42012.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
funny how some think Romney has no charisma and likability and others think he has it all. Depends on the circles you run in.
Palin needs to get ready for primetime before she runs for the first time to be POTUS. Clinton had the experience of Bill in the white house plus years as the NY senator and she still was found wanting at the end.
Sarah can best serve her self interests and those of the GOP by taking a long term approach to the white house, getting her qualificiations up and understanding the larger picture that is the US national interests at home and abroad.
by the way, I am the only one who thinks its poor taste to have the state of Alaska superimposed on the continental US as part of her PAC logo?
as if size is all that matters
January 27th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Thanks Jason, no you are right, I should not put much weight into what people comment about. I would like some time to unfold before I join any camp. Even though Like Palinism better that Romneyism and the like. I can live with any Conservative despite perfering some over others. I realize that Mr. Romney can appeal to certain Independent swing voters which is important, but I think other swing voters are more shall we say complex, and I am waiting to see how things unfold. I may have taken shots in the past at some GOP candidate, but I will try to avoid this. One candidate or another is going to need us to rally around him or her.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I’m neutral on Romney. He gets more hatred and praise on here than he deserves. If he shows improvement on the flaws he had in 2008 then he deserves a second look from those of us that didn’t support him.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
#5. Projection. I expect the media and the Democrats to trash Sarah Palin at every opportunity. I don’t expect to see her incessantly trashed on a supposedly GOP-friend website. You want to see a troll on this site? Look in a mirror.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
“funny how some think Romney has no charisma and likability and others think he has it all. Depends on the circles you run in.” Yes, it is interesting
“by the way, I am the only one who thinks its poor taste to have the state of Alaska superimposed on the continental US as part of her PAC logo?” As you know, I cannot and would not run for President, but in theory, I’d have no problem putting my state in the logo would I run for President, but hey.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
51. “Dems want her to run again so they can have so much fun with her. She will be the laughing stock of the Republican candidates. Can she not see that? Does she really want to embarrase herself and us??”
Frankly, some of “us” provide enough embarrassment as it is.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I will be the first to say that Romney does deserve a strong look in 2012 from everyone. If the election is between Romney, Palin, and the Huck, then I’m all Romney, at this point. (don’t hold me to that though, I change my mind quite a bit as I don’t really have a favorite).
January 27th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Well said Doug Forrester! BTW, in fairness to Mr. Romney, I think he is trying to correct his 2008 flaws which is why I am willing to consider him even though he is not my favorite.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
“Frankly, some of “us” provide enough embarrassment as it is.” Unfortunately true.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
“Frankly, some of “us” provide enough embarrassment as it is.” Unfortunately true.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
I never knew that Romney had groupies until I started looking at the comments on this site. He’s not really the type of person who inspires a lot of excitement. Palin does inspire such feelings, but only within a smaller subset of the population.
January 27th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Well that answers that question….
Now the ball is in Huck’s court.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
All of the people buying into this “Sarah is stupid” line are imbeciles. I’m probably going to back Romney again if he runs, but I’m sickened by this lynching of people in our own parties. It’s similar to what liberals do to our country- blame America first. Only in your case, it’s blame Palin first. Who the hell cares what any of these morons think?
January 27th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Alex
if the shoe fits.
I wonder, who built her site. I know it could NOT be ms. ego trip herself. (AKA the bimbo).
January 27th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
“it’s blame Palin first”
What has she done to inspire confidence in her knowledge/abilities/etc?
January 27th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Alright, I admit that I made some snide comments about Palin’s intellect. If this were 2011, post primaries and Palin was our gal then I wouldn’t say any of these things and I would be backing her 100%. I think that there is much that is likeable and respectable about her. And if it were a choice between her and Huck, I would be fervently supporting Palin because even though neither has a chance in a general election, she at least seems to have integrity. But I stand behind my claims that she can’t win a national general election. And we should be pointing these things out now so as to hopefully avoid nominating a gauranteed loser.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
#85 “What has she done to inspire confidence in her knowledge/abilities/etc?”
What has she done to deserve being called a bimbo and have people go after her kids? Dislike her and/or think she’d tank any ticket she’s associated with? Fine, sell your point of view and she’ll either win or lose the primary in 3 years (!). Attack her with the slime and you create ill feelings by those who do support her, and the GOP needs all the help they can get these days if they are to become politically relevant again.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
#63…
“my advice would be two terms as gov, than run for the US senate in 2014…from that spot run for the white house in any open gop cycle 2016+…what do i think she will do? probably run in 2012, pols have egos you could ski down.”
wouldnt running for president only two years (actually really only a year at least) after becoming senator seem to most ppl a little too ambitious and self-serving? i’m assuming (correct me if i’m wrong) that you want Palin to go into the Senate to get a handle of national security/foreign policy issues she wouldn’t get being just a governor… well i dont think just a year or so in the Senate would cut it. Palin is really young, only 44 or 45 yrs old. She can honestly wait til 2020 if she wanted,as she’d only be 56/57 becoming President… it really depends on how Obama does and is perceived by the voters… but i would serve out two terms as gov. of Alaska until 2014, skip the ’12 prez election (no matter who wins- Obama or the Rep candidate) and run in 2016 in an open GOP primary if Obama gets re-elected in 2012… if Obama is not re-elected in ’12 and a Romney/Huckabee or whoever is President in 2016, wait til 2020 for an open GOP primary to run in (cause there will be one in that scenario). I think she can afford to wait until 2012 and I consider myself a huge fan of Gov. Palin… I just think the knock on her inexperience and her intellectual curiosity (as much as it is overblown by some interviews and by smears by the MSM) is inbedded in the minds of too many voters the GOP will need in 2012. It takes a while to overcome image perceptions. By 2016 and 2020, that could be put aside by a lot of voters, esp. if Obama is seen as a failure of a President (we went for the smart, Harvard law review edotor, professorial type that would guide us wisely through the economic crisis and look what it got us… maybe we need some heartland common-sense conservatve reformer like Palin… who knows).
January 27th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Integrity? ?What about the 1000 government emails Todd was copied on that she is refusing to release? What about her testimony on Troopergate that she vowed to release, but changed her mind? She does have some ethics issues beyond these 2 examples, and if it were any other candidate, they would be explored. I think people believe she is too cute to have done anything wrong. People don’t call her princess Sarah for no reason. She’s similar to Obama, with some of her groupies – untouchable.
I’m not going to shut up because she needs to be vetted just like everyone else. If she’s running, her record, actions, statments, as well as her preparedness for office are all on the table.
January 27th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
What has she done to deserve being called a bimbo and have people go after her kids?
Oh, I got this. Not knowing what the VP does. Not knowing what papers or magazine’s she reads. Her willingness to play to the basest instincts and lowest common denominator among the crowd. Her willingness to trot out the kids at every opportunity, and her being shocked that the press notices them. Having left the town of Wasilia, 9000 people, 20 million in debt. Pretending that being in Alaska makes you experienced in foreign affairs. Not being able to have answer any hard question, and most of the easy ones, unless heavily scripted. Her seeming dedication to the belief that some Americans count more than others. Her abuse of power in trying to get her ex-brother-in-law fired. Her inability to understand the concept of ‘high school dropout’….there’s so much more!
January 27th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
My wife, and a lot of women I talked to were very, very upset and turned off by her debate performance.
Not the words as most stopped listening to her shortly after it started and just started counting…It was the winking. Constant winking! These are all professional women who feel that acting like that while fine for the Grammy’s is NOT acceptable for our Vice President.
These women I know felt that she set their gender back by her blatant attempt to use her looks to get ahead and not by the basis of her experience or ideas.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Excellent points, Martha.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I didn’t know that hate, taking things out of context, and deliberately interpreting everything in the worst possible light are American ideals.
Sheesh!
January 27th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
George, I was, as well. It was embarrassing, and then to hear everyone go gaga the next day was pathetic. She won! they declared. Lowry had little Palin starbursts floating in his living room, for pete’s sake.
How many times did she say maverick? How many questions did she refuse to answer?
January 27th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
#90, you duck very cleverly. You once mention her “trotting out her kids (as if this isn’t standard for politicians)” as a reason we should go after her kids. I find that kind of thinking repulsive. Criticize her for using them as a prop, but don’t criticize them.
As for “bimbo,” none of the things you mentioned justifies that. Incompetent I’ll go with, though I disagree. Unethical? I don’t buy it for a minute (your troopergate is nonsense), but at least there’s an issue involved there. Problems with the sport arena? Fair game. Bimbo? Not a chance.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I think Romney’s supporters think they’re doing him a favor by trashing Palin, but they’re just alienating him further from the socially conservative base of the party.
If Romney tries to destroy Palin in 2012 with a bunch of negative ads, he will end up destroying himself.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
#96 “If Romney tries to destroy Palin in 2012 with a bunch of negative ads, he will end up destroying himself.”
..And at the same time ensuring Gov Palin wins the nomination without having to work for it. The formula is really simple. Gov Palin has a rabid fan base. Personal attacks not linked to her governance (calling her a bimbo, for instance) will embolden, not weaken, their support. Further, it will build resentment in her followers, to the point that they will threaten to stay home if she doesn’t win.
Now, if attacks are left in the political realm, the resentment won’t be built. The rabid support will more likely critically analyze her strengths (and weaknesses), and if she is indeed the “empty bikini” many of you believe her to be, she will fade to the 2nd or 3rd tier. Her supporters will become persuadable. Part of Sen McCain’s problem in ’08 was his own negativity towards his opponents, and was likely part of why he chose someone like Gov Palin (pick someone like the socons he had been bashing in order to pacify their rancor; but not Gov Huckabee, as this would be tacit admission he was being overtly political in his attacks).
At the end of the day, I want the GOP nominee to be someone like Spkr Gingrich, who has ideas and a plan going forward, and I want all parts of the base to be happy with whomever was chosen, because the battle was clean. If that doesn’t happen, around 250 EV is the best that could be hoped for.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
“Now, if attacks are left in the political realm”
When has Romney attacked people outside the Political Realm?
—-
“The formula is really simple. Gov Palin has a rabid fan base. Personal attacks not linked to her governance (calling her a bimbo, for instance) will embolden, not weaken, their support. Further, it will build resentment in her followers, to the point that they will threaten to stay home if she doesn’t win.”
When are you people going to learn? NEGATIVE ATTAKCS ARE NOT AIMED AT THE RABID FAN BASE OF ANY CANDIDATE. Saying that negative attacks are only going to embolden and agitate her most loyal fans is probably true – but that doesn’t mean much if she gets abandoned by everybody else, which could very well be the result of attacks.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Dan. You are a better man than I am. I won’t be voteing for Ms. Palin in any capacity.
January 27th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Isn’t the Sarah being her name just a coincidence? Its really an acronym: Sarah’s also retarded also hot. Just kidding guys! And don’t forget Pruce absolutely guaranteeing us day after day after day that the VP was RIDGE!!!!
January 27th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Romney’s style in 2008 was pretty much to attack Huckabee, then McCain as vigorously as possible.
I don’t see much evidence his attacks were effective — he lost Iowa in a landslide, and lost NH definitely. To this day, Huckabee despises him, and McCain despised him until quite recently.
I hope Romney runs a different, more substantive type of campaign in 2012, but I’m not optimistic. Palin better brace herself.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
“more substantive type of campaign in 2012″
RIGHT…because compared to moose lady and preacher boy, Romney’s talk about tax cuts, a plan for healthcare, a policy to secure the border, support for finishing the mission in Iraq, calls to use our Domestic Energy – I guess none of those were substance-related.
And if you don’t think that Romney’s attacks were substantive, you’ve got another thing coming. Not ONE of the attacks Romney used was personal. He knocked McCain for supporting Amnesty and McCain-Feingold. He attacked Huckabee for his tax and spend policies, and for letting a killer out of jail.
As for the candidate “hating” Romney – they hated him long before he called out the big guns. Huckabee publically questioned Mormonism long before the Iowa caucus, and McCain attacked Romney as dishonest, not to mention calling him a pig.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Flip Dixon.#96:“I think Romney’s supporters think they’re doing him a favor by trashing Palin…”
Flip, do you think you are doing Palin a favor by lumping all Romney supporters together with the relative few that trash Palin? Most Romney supporters I know view her as someone with definite potential, but not quite ready for prime time yet. Give her a few years and we’ll see.
Should I lump all Palin supporters in with you?
January 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
#88, I am not suggesting that she go to the Senate to use it as means to get the presidential nomination. I am suggesting that she go to the Senate and stay there and forget the presidency.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I think a lot of the anti Palin comments on this thread were made in jest, perhaps a little over the line, but intended to be a little funny. Richard M has given us some very good food for thought. There is no reason to viciously attack someone that we all kinda like, but just don’t feel she is currently up to the task. I think most of us are willing to given her a chance to prove she has developed, but you can’t blame us for thinking its probably not going to happen for this go around in 2012.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
I meant… I think she can afford to wait until AFTER 2012. Sorry.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
“I think Romney’s supporters think they’re doing him a favor by trashing Palin”
I don’t know whether it will help Romney or not. What I DO know is that Palin was a disaster last year, and the more distance we put between her and the nomination in 2012, the better we’ll all be.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
#103, I’m no Palin supporter so I don’t really care whether I’m doing her any favors or not. It just seems to me that many of Romney’s supporters feel a need to trash Palin, since they see her as a threat. This is a mistake. They should ignore Palin, and let her shortcomings shine through on their own.
My hope in 2012 is that Romney and Palin cancel each other out, and a dark horse (Sanford, Jindal, Pawlenty) slips through.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I see where this is going. We run Sarah Palin against Obama in 2012. She gets crushed in a devastating electoral landslide. The loss gets blamed on the social conservative wing of the Republican Party. Republican leadership announces that from now on only business conservatives such as Romney get to be the Republican nominee.
Sarah Palin is a stooge in an elaborate scheme by business conservatives to steal the party agenda away from social conservatives.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Yes MarK, in fairness to the Romney camp, most of its members behave like ladies and Gentlemen as opposed to trashers. Furthermore, for the record, many of the anti-Palin extremist have nothing or very little to do with Mr. Romney. However, as 2008 demonstrated in both parties, it does not necessarily take a whole lot of camp members to cause hurt feelings which is difficult to repair the damage.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
“They should ignore Palin, and let her shortcomings shine through on their own”
That might work if she hadn’t been VP – if she hadn’t attracted mindless zombies as her most rabid supporters.
====
“My hope in 2012 is that Romney and Palin cancel each other out, and a dark horse (Sanford, Jindal, Pawlenty) slips through.”
Dull. inexperienced (though good for VP). and Duller.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I shant be voting for Palin in any capacity. What ego trip is she and huckabee on? They name the packs after them?
As far as the overlay of the state of AK over the US. I guess she wanted to show that her state is the ‘biggest’, yet it has less population than Homestead, Fla, on a good day, even when the fleet is in.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
#108 Flip Dixon:
I completely agree with you about why we should ignore Palin.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
#112, Alaska has 25X the population of Homestead, Florida. I guess you meant Miami, Florida?
January 27th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Palin’s PAC First Step to 2012
by Chris Cillizza
Is Rush Limbaugh the New Face of the GOP?
by Chris Cillizza
January 27th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
#104… Believe me, she won’t just stay in the Senate. I dont think thats necessarily a bad thing. I think she should run for President and can win if she plays her cards right and focuses on reform of govt issues and economic issues… the experience as a two-term governor and senator for a few years can help her (as her main Achilles heel is lack of experience and policy expertise). She has lots of potential. Let’s keep in mind that running as a VP under a candidate (McCain) and his staffers and consultants does not tell us the true potential of that candidate. Two months isn’t everything and might very not well define Sarah Palin forever in the minds of the voters. But I think running in 2012 will only hurt her more than help her public/political image even more. Get some more experience, do more interviews, brush up on some more national issues, focus on reform and real change in govt (ala Newt) instead of talking about “pro-America parts of states”, and DEFEND YOURSELF MORE, SARAH… you let the media and their Obama cronies define you as a redneck idiot, as “G.W. Bush in heels” and then go after them: not smart strategy, Sarah. Defend yourself, but be positve and do it with grace. I do not believe that McCain picking Sarah was a bad choice and definitely didn’t result in his loss (the economic crisis and Bush’s unpopularity is responsible), but the way McCain handled Palin after he picked her was abysmal… no defending her, and overcoaching her to the point that she got flustered (remember Reagan being overcrammed and overprepared before the first ’84 debate w/ Mondale… he looked flustered and out of sorts). That is why her presidential campaign will be the TRUE test of her durability and appeal as a Presidential candidate b/c it will allow her to be herself more and craft her own message rather than cow-tow to McCain’s message (which many of us now acknowledge was poorly crafted for the times at hand and the electorate of today) and demands of consultants who had never dealt with her before.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
“three potential candidates , three different PACs- HUCKpac, SARAHpac, and Free and Strong AmericaPAC.
so tell me who is full of themselves and who isnt?”
LOL!
They are ALL full of themselves.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
IF Palin waited to run – served two complete terms in the Senate, Ran for Ted Steven’s old seat in six years, and THEN ran for President after a term as Senator – she could do very well, and I could support her.
But her ego is too big, apparently, for that – instead, she wants to start running now, which means 2012 Sarah will be the same as 2008 Sarah – and I’ll do anything I can to stop her from getting to the nomination.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Mrs. Palin does not have use the slogan “Free and Strong America” because we already know she stands for a Free and Strong America. Haha.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Well, I am BOTH a Palin and a Romney supporter. The difference as I see it is that Romney is ready now to assume the office of Presidency, and Sarah is not. Who knows what the future may hold.
Sarah has about two and a half years to get it together if she wants to try for 2012. She might be able to do it. However, she has both a state to run, AND she is the mother of a Down’s baby. She has quite a bit on her plate. If she throws in a 2010 re-election campaign, the level of difficulty just went up by several orders of magnitude. Quite frankly, I think she should put her Presidential ambitions on hold until 2016.
To show my sincerity in this, I suspect that if she remains on the sidelines, it gives Huckabee a clear shot at the evangelical so-con vote. This cannot be good for Romney, especially in the Deep South — though if memory serves, Romney didn’t do all that badly there.
Just sayin’.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
“Haha.”
One woman by, of, and for the clueless.
Not a bad campaign slogan.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
OK then, Quite less than Disneyworld on a good day either.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Just put her in the octagon with Romney and lets end this.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
With respect MatthewK, if you think a clueless person can successfully run the state of Alaska, I am frankly starting to wonder who the clueless one is.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Well, MatthewK, having an outsized ego is a prerequisite for running for President, I’m afraid.
I don’t fault her in the least for starting up a PAC. I would too, if I were her.
Now calling it “SarahPAC” is a bit ego-centric, I will grant you. But only a bit. It is quite common for a candidate’s PAC to be named after them. About half of them do it.
January 27th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I will not be donating to the sarahpac. It’s my cash, and I’ll spend it wisely, not on a losing proposition.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
OHIO JOE +1
January 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
#121… I have many intelligent, smart Republican friends that supported Gov. Palin (me included)… it offends me when you call me and many of my friebds “clueless.”
January 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
“And if you don’t think that Romney’s attacks were substantive, you’ve got another thing coming. Not ONE of the attacks Romney used was personal. He knocked McCain for supporting Amnesty and McCain-Feingold. He attacked Huckabee for his tax and spend policies, and for letting a killer out of jail.”
Romney ran on an irrelevant platform in the ’08 primaries. He was for anything that made him look more conservative and tried to weigh down everyone else as not conservative. Problem is, McCain’s people cared a lot more about defense and personal character than about hardline immigration enforcement. If they wanted to send them all back they wouldn’t support McCain in the first place. Same with Huckabee and social conservatives. No one doubted what they stood for, and were willing to overlook flaws on issues of lesser importance to them.
That is why Palin will have power in the primaries. Romney will have to articulate a much clearer vision than in he did ’08 to stop her, because you can bet your bottom dollar that she’s got one ready to swing home to the fans, exclusive as it may be.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Will she be buying a new wardrobe with the donations?
January 27th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
#124… THANK YOU!
January 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
129. LOL. Funny. Romney needs to ‘articulate’? Huh. That’s a word foreign to palinista. Clear vision? Read Martha’s post.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
“if you think a clueless person can successfully run the state of Alaska”
She suggested that the visibility of Russia from – not her office, but a tiny Island off the coast – qualified her to be VP.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
What did Mark Twain say? Something about we are all ignorant (clueless). Just ignorant (clueless) about different things.
Sarah’s first foray into National politics did nothing to impress the public on her readiness to be POTUS. Let’s hope she puts in some solid study time between now and when she tries it again.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
#130… It AMAZES me how many Republicans on this site actually buy into the false idea that Sarah Palin actually purchased all those clothes. If anyone is to be blame, it is the RNC and Mike Duncan for starting that debacle that cost us lots of cash to be used for the campaign.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
“Well, MatthewK, having an outsized ego is a prerequisite for running for President, I’m afraid.”
This might be true – its when ego is the PRIMARY thing that is the problem.
And I don’t fault her for starting a PAC….I fault her for running for President this early.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
“Will she be buying a new wardrobe with the donations?” I’m half tempted to donate to her PAC just so she can buy some more beautiful clothes. Unfortunately, her good looks will never quite match her political beauty.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
MPC.#129
It is a shame you feel that way. May I suggest you go back and actually READ what Romney had to say? Read his position papers. Listen to his speeches. Investigate his so-called flip-flops. You know, actually honestly check him out, instead of just taking the word of his opponents at face value. I suspect you will be pleasantly surprised, unless you have a problem with being proven wrong.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
#133.. NO SHE DIDN’T… very badly worded on Palin’s part, but what she was trying to say (in an interview that ABC edited half of her very good answers out of) is that Alaska is closer than other states to being threatened by a Russian missile attack, a definite issue given Russia’s recent militaristic actions in Georgia and desire for expansionism under Putin and now under Medvedev. I do admit that she used very poor word choice that allowed SNL to change her wording to “I can see Russia from my house” which is different from “You can Russia from Alaska.” She should’ve said too (I do fault her for this) that the fsct that Canada is Alaska’s next door neighbor also gives her experience in trade and commerce issues with other countries (and Canada is an important ally)
January 27th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
“#130… It AMAZES me how many Republicans on this site actually buy into the false idea that Sarah Palin actually purchased all those clothes. If anyone is to be blame, it is the RNC and Mike Duncan for starting that debacle that cost us lots of cash to be used for the campaign.” Exactly! I say, let expand the freaking stimulus plan to add to her wardrobe.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
MacisBack08, I think some of these people watch too much Tina Feye.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
“Romney ran on an irrelevant platform in the ‘08 primaries. He was for anything that made him look more conservative and tried to weigh down everyone else as not conservative.” You are a little harsh MPC. Not all of us embraced Mr. Romney’s platform 100% or even 90%, but that does not mean it is irrelevant. We can argue how Conservative Mr. Romney is or whether we like his brand of Conservatism, but at the end of the day, Mr. Romney is no Liberal.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Beauty is in the ey of the beholder. She may be purdy on the outside, but pretty nasty and ugly in the inside. She offers nothing to the American people. If she does not stand for re election in 10, that tells me her internal polling sez she can’t win again.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
132,
Palin may stumble with the media, but her fans know exactly who she is. Sarah Palin is a cultural icon for rural America. She’s got an incredibly strong persona even if I’m not particularly fond of it. Romney’s people miss her threat at their own peril. No string of “you’re not a conservative” insults, no matter the substance, are going to sway that. Romney needs to tell Republicans why he, and not Sarah Palin, is the one to lead into the future and go for broke. They need a reason to believe in Romney. That’s something he couldn’t give them this past year. Every state Romney came to a big showdown in, he lost. Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, Super Tuesday – if he had a determined opponent, he inevitably came off the worse and took solid defeats – because in trying to be Mr. Conservative he looked like a fake compared to passionate preacher Huckabee and uncompromising-on-security McCain
January 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
MPC
You mean uneducated americans? Thats what we see, anyway.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
“You mean uneducated americans? Thats what we see, anyway.” I do not know about anyone else, but want my country (America) capitalized. If you think all Palin supporters are uneducated, you have never been to my neighborhood. We do not all Ph.D.s, but most of us have at least one degree and we at least sympathize with Mrs. Palin even if we are not in her camp.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Nevada, Idaho, Mich, VA (yes, he won va on first vote). Oh, the list goes on an on. Want to run Palin? I’ll bet Obama will be TRHILLEd. He’s not afraid of a empty skirt head like hers. He’ll eat her for lunch. I know some here disagree, but I would like someone crazy smart, who can think on his or her feet. who can answer intelligently. Who won’t blame the big bad media when they flub their lines. Who can actually NAME a newspaper they read? Is it asking too much? Joe sixpack can’t run this country. And frankly, I don’t want him to. I want someone with good family values, not not the photo op family. Palin is another adulter. She fit in well with McCain. I think I’d like someone who has always honored their vows to their spouse. If they cheat on their spouse, they’ll cheat on the american people. Just my thoughts, and I’m sticking to them. I guess I just have a higher standard for my leaders than others.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
#98 “When are you people going to learn? NEGATIVE ATTAKCS ARE NOT AIMED AT THE RABID FAN BASE OF ANY CANDIDATE. Saying that negative attacks are only going to embolden and agitate her most loyal fans is probably true – but that doesn’t mean much if she gets abandoned by everybody else, which could very well be the result of attacks.”
When are YOU people going to learn (and by “YOU people”, I mean those such as Martha M, MatthewK, Brad Hansen’s @ss, and so on) that Gov Palin already HAS a large enough base that, if sufficiently motivated, can carry her over the top in a crowded Republican primary? Further, assuming she doesn’t win, her base is large enough that they could ensure the Dem wins by staying home? How do you make sure they’re motivated to show up? Pointless personal attacks. What’s the best way to make sure they’ll stay home if Gov Palin loses? Pointless personal attacks.
In short, what’s the harm of going after her on legit issues? WHY must it be snotty quips about her being a bimbo? WHY bring up her (until recently) pregnant daughter? WHY go after 10,000 things NOT related to her gov’t work and knowledge? You’re already supremely confidant she can’t match up to anyone, so why not let it be on issues of substance?
January 27th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
In my ‘hood, many of us also have degrees. We also speak more than one language more than any other population. I speak French, Spanish and German, in addition to English. That makes 4 more than Palin.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
“Palin is another adulter.” I do not believe that she is an adulterer and I see no reason why she would cheat the AMERICAN people. Sorry to capitalize every letter in our great country! No have no problem capitalizing some of our 50 states.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
marK
Look, Romney made a mistake in his campaign direction that essentially muted a very capable individual. He was too concerned with getting the movement conservatives to like him when he himself wasn’t much of a passionate movement conservative hence the lingering skepticism, rather than talking about the subjects that were really on people’s minds and championing a way forward, which is what he had previously been quite good at. In politics you have to be relevant to lead, and Romney looked good on paper but just wasn’t an inspiring pick for most. Huckabee was always going to be more inspiring to social conservatives, and McCain and Giuliani were the leaders centrists and defense conservatives stuck to. What did Romney bring to the table? An extraordinary intellect, which was definitely a big help to his qualifications, but not enough.
I pay more than enough attention to him to form a good idea of who he really is. He’s a guy I’d really like to like, personally, and think he’ll know in 2012 exactly how to turn his large capital and mental assets into leadership.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Legit issues. They won’t listen to legit issues. Bring up the sweet deal the contractor ‘buddies’ got to build the wassilla sports center (no bid, over budget and still without deed to the land) and they scream ‘unfair!” Bring up her budget issues about to hit the fan, and they cry foul. It’s not her fault…. never is. She based her states budget on 70 bucks a barrel. When it skyrocketed, every person got a check in AK. Off OUR backs. Well, now oil is half that, and she’s got a huge shortfall looming. betcha she trys to make us pay for it.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I do not know many people in my neighborhood are multi-lingual, but why are we so sure that Mrs. Palin is uni-ligual herself. I’m sorry, Native Alaskans are not as sophisticated as Europeans. Haha.
“Gov Palin already HAS a large enough base that, if sufficiently motivated, can carry her over the top in a crowded Republican primary? Further, assuming she doesn’t win, her base is large enough that they could ensure the Dem wins by staying home?” I for one will not stay home, I fully intend to vote GOP regardless of who leads our party, but I do not have to part with my donation money.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Hey, let’s stop the holier-than-thou attitudes. Asserting superiority – morally, intellectually, or otherwise – isn’t exactly a convincing argument
January 27th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Wassilla sports center, I’ll give you, Trooper-gate and other made up non-sense just makes you look silly.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
MPC
The mistake was not his. It was the bigot squad that could not vote for a man of his faith and values. Now, we hear the hewn and cry that ‘WE WANT ROMNEY’. And the country will ache for someone of his caliber in the very near future. Palin is a blip on the screen. One that really won’t effect anything, unless the GOP has yet another bigoted stupid attack.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Palin never said that “she could see Russia from her house” or that being able to see Russia from Alaska was a qualification.
She did, however, suggest that the shared border was a foreign policy plus, which is preposterous.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
So sorry Ohio. but she had the affair. Her name is in the court records by Mrs. Brad Hanson. Seems Braddy was the hot spare for her, when Toddy was away at camp playing boy. And yes, I do measure a person by his/her actions. I could not vote for McCain for some of the very same reasons. And ohio? if she’s on the ballot? I’ll make sure I’ll go vote – for the democrate.
January 27th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
#152 “Legit issues. They won’t listen to legit issues.”
What a demeaning attitude! Who’s crying foul over the sports center? Sure, some people won’t agree, but who says it’s unfair to bring it up? Budget issues? THEY HAVEN’T MATERIALIZED YET! How about we wait and see how she handles them, shall we? If she can’t handle it, it’s fair game. If she can, however, you’ll look like an idiot chicken little for declaring Alaska insolvent and in crisis when it’s actually under control. As for the checks, you don’t appear to know much about the Alaskan budget process. That money wasn’t fed money, it was Alaska money, and if they’re running a surplus, what better way for the gov’t to handle that than give it back?
By the way, other than a very poor opening assumption, that was probably the smartest comment you’ve placed all night!
January 27th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
“Sarah Palin is a cultural icon for rural America.”
A completely manufactured, inauthentic cultural icon. The extent to which she’s loved by rural America is due to the fact that she shamelessly pandered to them and stoked any dormant resentment of “them city folk.” I think a candidate who’s campaign strategy is to turn one element of American society against another isn’t really putting first.
The cultural war is outdated and, frankly, unwanted by most Americans.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
“Sarah Palin is a cultural icon for rural America.”
A completely manufactured, inauthentic cultural icon. The extent to which she’s loved by rural America is due to the fact that she shamelessly pandered to them and stoked any dormant resentment of “them city folk.” I think a candidate who’s campaign strategy is to turn one element of American society against another isn’t really putting country first.
The cultural war is outdated and, frankly, unwanted by most Americans.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
On the other hand if it is true that Wasilla has a 20 million dollar deficit because of Sarah, that would be very troubling. That’s about $3,000 for ever man, woman and child in that town. That’s terrible. If this is true, and I don’t know for sure if it is, I don’t want to hear anyone on here talking about her being fiscally conservative. And Gentlemen, it really isn’t that tough to run a state if you have 140 dollar per barrel crude oil prices, and that is where you get most of your revenue from. We’ll see how she does on a much smaller price (if she runs again), which it appears she is not going to.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
MPC:“Romney needs to tell Republicans why he, and not Sarah Palin, is the one to lead into the future and go for broke. They need a reason to believe in Romney. That’s something he couldn’t give them this past year.”
Could that not be said for every GOP candidate except John McCain? We also need a reason to believe in Palin. She certainly didn’t give far too many of us enough reasons this past year.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Politics is a lot like marriage. If you go for the smooth talking, charismatic, popular type you will end up with someone who cheats on you and takes you on an emotional roller coaster to hell.
The so called dull guy or unflashy girl is steady, consistent and reliable. In the long run these people are the winning picks.
America has elected the former in Obama. By 2012, a substanceless charismatic will be like offering booze to a person with a hangover the next morning. The boring, intellectual guys are going to look pretty good, especially to victims of a devastated economy.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I agree with everything Spencer said. Great posts.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
“And Gentlemen, it really isn’t that tough to run a state if you have 140 dollar per barrel crude oil prices,” For one thing, oil prices were only that high for a short period of time.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
C_of_D.#164
Have you ever heard of a man named Ronald Reagan?
January 27th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
#166,
Not only that, but it can be just as big of a hassle to effectively run a state when the cash is flowing. You just have to deal with people saying, “There is so much money. Why can’t we have some?”
And where there is ready cash, there is the temptation for corruption..
January 27th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Mark, you and others need to realize a Ronald Reagan comes along once in a generation; perhaps even once in a lifetime. Sarah Palin is not RR. No one is and the sooner the party learns that the better off we will be. We need to STOP with the cult of personality politics. When the next RR comes on the scene, great. In the meantime let’s focus on informed, quality candidates.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
No, Ohio, but they were over 100 for the vast majority of her term, if not all of it.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
C_of_D,
“We need to STOP with the cult of personality politics. ”
Ha! Tell that to the Rombots. Half of whom- I am convinced- think that Romney is the Second Coming.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
“A completely manufactured, inauthentic cultural icon. The extent to which she’s loved by rural America is due to the fact that she shamelessly pandered to them and stoked any dormant resentment of “them city folk.” I think a candidate who’s campaign strategy is to turn one element of American society against another isn’t really putting country first.
The cultural war is outdated and, frankly, unwanted by most Americans.”
100% agree with you, and detest Palin’s style of appeal.
Cultural divisions are really some of the worst sort of things we can propagate. Still, we’d be fools not to recognize that, particularly in a crowded primary as someone else here mentioned, they are a tool to power.
“Could that not be said for every GOP candidate except John McCain? We also need a reason to believe in Palin. She certainly didn’t give far too many of us enough reasons this past year.”
Romney, given his huge advantages in cash, Presidential persona, and weak field (won by a resuscitated John McCain) should have made him the natural winner. Like I said, relevancy counts, and lacking it his campaign had no real direction. Romney in Iowa was different from Romney in NH who was different from Romney in Michigan who was ultimately different from Romney in Florida and Super Tuesday. That’s a good sign of a campaign with no real base. Please note that I am not saying that Romney is a flip-flopper by nature – simply that without anything to aim at, he was naturally going to sway in the political wind. Huckabee came up strong from out of nowhere because he of the huge momentum from the SoCon’s, ever thirsty for pure “one of us” leaders. He’d never win a national one-on-one race because he’d be totally unable to leave that group and appeal to the electorate at large. He’s super-relevant, but only to them. The same goes for Palin the culture warrior, probably even more sharply than for Huckabee. Romney’s gotta have relevancy in 2012 or he’s going to get knocked out by weaker candidates that at least have clear definition.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
#158. No, she didn’t have an affair. See how easy that claim was?
January 27th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
“No, Ohio, but they were over 100 for the vast majority of her term, if not all of it.” Yes, over a $100 is not exactly the same as $140. Furthermore, oil, is not Alaska’s only source of revenue.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
#171 As a Romney supporter, I disagree with your broad brush characterization. I support him because he is the most qualified man for the job. I don’t think he is perfect or the Second Coming. And no, I’m not Mormon.
#172 One of the problems with Romney as you described was the salesman like effect some people described as being a turnoff. I think that comes from Romney’s background as a successful businessman, not out of deception. A successful businessman learns to adapt to his customer’s needs. While this works well in business, the approach didn’t translate well to politics. I am confident Mitt’s team will learn from the mistakes of the past. If he concentrates on who he is, an expert on money matters with a proven history of success, he will do better in 2012. He has the core qualifications.
Most importantly, we need to close our primaries to get a truly Republican candidate. Dems should not be crossing over to choose our candidate. We should also rethink the choice of early voting states.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Romney was the target of every GOP candidate. He did a good job slaying Rudy, Fred and Huck. McCain and Huck teamed up to take him out, and there was never any doubt that Romney was the person to beat. I don’t think it’s accurate to say he ran a lousy campaign. He actually did very well considering no name recognition at the outset. He raised more money than anyone (except Rudy -a tie) even without his own money. I also don’t think his campaign was disingenuous, or that he tried to be more conservative than he was. A lot of people say he needs to just be himself next time. I submit that the Romney you’ve already seen will be the exact Romney we see in 2012. Sure, he’s learned some things and made some mistakes.
As for Palin. She built her entire budget (90%) on revenue from a volatile industry. There shouldn’t be any looming budget shortfall if she had done her job. But, the legislature made sure there’s money put aside, so they will probably make it. If Palin gets through this successfully, she’ll deserve some credit.
That’s the point. She should do her job. The other day Rush praised her for her speech to Alaskans. But there wasn’t any substance to it, and no details. (Big shock.) She talked about a hiring freeze, but that was put into place by the previous gov, and she’s hiring her own new staff to deal with various issues — so she’s exempt. Anyway, Palin needs to build her creds and run when she’s actually accumulated some real knowledge. She needs to improve her speaking ability.
The ethics issues are not rumors or overblown, including Troopergate. I don’t know why everyone dismisses it. She did use her position to try to settle family scores, and Todd was acting with her power behind him, make no mistake. It was inappropriate. Why has she kept her testimony sealed if she has nothing to hide?
The private email accounts, the sports complex mess, Todd with a desk and phone in her office, Todd in attendance at meetings, copying Todd on hundreds/thousands of emails, Palin keeping them secret, etc. I thought she liked to talk about cleaning up corruption and government transparency? I guess all that is just not for herself.
She is very polarizing. She has a fan base that will be significant in 2012, but she is hated by almost everyone else. You can’t win an election that way. She already hurt the party, we don’t need more of it.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
“is the one to lead into the future and go for broke.”
He has experience. She doesn’t. He is proven in a national campaign. She isn’t. He has shown himself to be intelligent, articulate, and knowledgeable on serious issues. She hasn’t.
Need I go on?
January 27th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Palin is our Obama in style and substance and if Americans are looking for another Obama type, they’ll just re-elect the
one already in office.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
#171, if any Republican has a Messiah complex it’s Huckabee. Your projecting that onto Romney supporters is just laughable.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
DOES this mean palin for 2012 is more serious then a romney 2012 run?
January 27th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
“DOES this mean palin for 2012 is more serious then a romney 2012 run?”
Not sure where you are getting that from. Palin is now just at the same level Romney is.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
New in Town Features Zellweger as Mitt Romney in a Mini
January 27th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
173
She did. Mrs. Hanson named HER (madame palin) as the reason her marriage broke up. She had the affair. she admited ‘getting close’ to him and Todd got mad and closed down the business that he and brad had together.
Pity facts can’t make it to your neck of the woods. I wanted not to belive it, but when I read it from several sources…. But heck, values are for the other people, right?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
180 posts already on a potential candidate who literally has zero chance of winning????????????
It would be like a democratic site hyper-ventilating about a 2008 run from a Biden or Richardson back in Jan 2005.
Oh and I also guarantee that it would be a HUGE plus not to be endorsed by Rush, Beck or Hannity. The three dimest people in the world (ok tie with Sarah & Caroline). No wonder they like Sarah.
ps great comment Alex about Joe Six Pac. That would have given her days of good press for the first time since the debate.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
#3:
three potential candidates , three different PACs- HUCKpac, SARAHpac, and Free and Strong AmericaPAC.
so tell me who is full of themselves and who isnt?
Because you can tell who loves America by who has someone on his staff come up with a fancy name.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Iowa does not speak for ME.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
185/ No, but you can tell who’s ego’s are trying to fill the circus tents.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Unlike Romney, Palin has charisma. Also, in most polls, her favorability ratings are higher than Romney, especially within the GOP. She also has a record of consistency on social issues, unlike the flip-flopper from Massachusetts. And unlike Romney, she has a dedicated following of people who will come out and vote for her.
I think when Romney campaigned for Chambliss, less than 100 people showed up to see him speak. Palin brought in over 30,000 in one day.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Sigh; more misinformation from anti-Palinists. This hiring freeze was NOT implemented by Palin’s predecessor. There was no hiring freeze prior to Friday, when it was implemented. See this link to Juneau Empire. Also note that it appears there will be no deficit after all; the state just won’t be able to save as much as it had planned.
“We all put a lot of money in savings last year,” said Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, co-chair of the committee. “This billion dollar shortfall means we’re actually going to save a little bit less than we hoped to.”
Also, Alaska’s budget has been oil-based for a long time. Oil field revenue has long contributed 80 percent or more of the funds for the state’s annual budget.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
#188 Everything you say about Palin can be said about Obama; and that ain’t saying much.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Sigh; more misinformation from anti-Palinists. This hiring freeze was NOT implemented by Palin’s predecessor. There was no hiring freeze prior to Friday, when it was implemented. See this link to Juneau Empire. Also note that it appears there will be no deficit after all; the state just won’t be able to save as much as it had planned.
“We all put a lot of money in savings last year,” said Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, co-chair of the committee. “This billion dollar shortfall means we’re actually going to save a little bit less than we hoped to.”
January 27th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
#189, last time I checked, Obama won a smashing victory.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
http://committedtoromney.com/2009/01/27/mitt-romney-2012-bring-america-back/
New video for Romney, 2012!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
190 Sounds good to me. Obama won.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Also, Alaska’s budget has been oil-based for a long time. Oil field revenue has long contributed 80 percent or more of the funds for the state’s annual budget.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Adam Graham, you are so pathetic. Of course Romney chose the name for his own PAC. It’s real fancy, ain’t it?
His whole campaign was built around the theme. I think it’s hilarious the way you underestimate Romney.
Sometimes you are so transparent, and silly.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Matt Y.
Governor Murkowski instituted a hiring freeze in Aug 06. I don’t know how long it was in effect.
Also, I didn’t say there was a budget deficit, just an expected budget shortfall.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Adam Graham calls Romney the man with no core, so I’m not surprised that he believes Romney does not love America.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Shoot, at least Rudy admitted his affair. I think it’s funny how Palin supporters just KNOW that the runor is false.
How do they know?
I don’t know, either, but there’s sure some evidence for it from people who are in a position to know.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
BTW – if she did have an affair and admitted to it, her supporters would not flinch. They wouldn’t care in the least.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Martha M
I shouldn’t be the one doing this, but oh well. Murkowski lifted the hiring freeze on Aug. 28th.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Where in the heck is Kristofer Lorelli? This is his gal!
January 28th, 2009 at 12:01 am
Fair enough, Matt Y.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:04 am
199: No, even though I’m not on her growing friends list, I’d support her over any person supported by her obviously ludicrous detractors, such as Martha M.
Observation: After so many religious conversations here, I’m certain your rejection of the Golden Rule means that you are not a member of Romney’s church. I refuse to hold Romney’s offensive supporters against him. At least so far.
Otherwise, I am perfectly justified in my agnosticism primarily because experience has taught me to despise the hypocritical nature displayed by many members of organized religion. No wonder Nietzsche satirized murdering God and taking His place so well. The faithful often believe their faith makes them immortal: “I can sin for free, you’re damned to hell — because my belief makes me impervious,” etc.
With religious adherents like this, America needs no enemies.
I’d rather join the mafia and expect to find greater integrity. Or the Democratic Party…
January 28th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I’m no Mitt Romney fan, but at least he doesn’t personally attack his opponents or spread misinformation about them. I wish the same could be said about some of the Rom-bots on this website. They are doing their own candidate a disservice.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:21 am
MarkG – Did you just imply that what people say on a blog affects who you will vote for? I hope not.
Yes, I’m a Mormon.
What have I said about Palin that is ludicrous?
(Okay, I did say that her ego is writing checks her brain can’t cash. But it’s obviously true.)
I also said I didn’t know if Palin had an affair. I don’t and neither does anyone else. There is evidence for it, and if it were any other politician, the topic would be fair game. Sarah is too cute to have every done anything wrong, apparently.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:22 am
Flip, you spread misinformation about Romney is almost every post.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Evidence that she had the affair.
I don’t care what religion you are. Affairs are a big red flag in my book.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:38 am
I’m not on board the Romney choo choo. Yet. I’ve a couple I’m watching. Love Levitt (former gov, former secretary of HS). I am totaly off the palin line. That’s a train wreck waiting to happen.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:44 am
188 Really? 30 K?
Not fudging numbers are we? You betcha. either that, or the GOP has 30K unemployed dunderheads.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Flip
Unlike Palin, Romney can spell the country’s name without help. And although he has worked for, and now owns several homes from Mass to CA and points in between, as try as he might, he can’t see one foreign country from any of them.So Palin has one up on him.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:14 am
justdafacts, the 30K number is what Chambliss claimed, based on the five or so events that Palin did for him. For all I know, he inflated those numbers, which wouldn’t surprise me. But the crowds were big, no one denies that.
And the whole “I see Russia from my house” line is Tina Fey, it’s not something that Palin ever said herself.
I’m not a fan of Palin at all, but there’s no denying her popularity with the GOP base, which is who ultimately ends up voting in a GOP primary. Romney will find it difficult to compete with that, even if he drops another $50 million of his own money to buy support.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Yes! We must fire up the base more!
What’s that shrinking sound I hear…
January 28th, 2009 at 4:14 am
If the GOP nominates Palin in 2012, they will do once again achieve permanent minority status. She is a cancer on the party, and represents everything wrong with it. Incurious, woefully dogmatic, shamefully shortsighted.
January 28th, 2009 at 4:48 am
And that’s being kind Doodad. But can we please stop talking about it like it has a chance of actually happening!
January 28th, 2009 at 4:52 am
“I don’t care what religion you are. Affairs are a big red flag in my book.” Yes it is true that most religion do not approve of Affairs, but most religions also do not believe in convicting people based on rumors.
January 28th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I dont know, I went to the SarahPac site. Firstly, there are 2 small sections at present. ONE says it is FOR REPUBLICANS, the other says it is for LIKE JUST EVERYBODY!!!! hmmmm. Great for TeamSarah members, but they are like love sick puppies and she can do no wrong, but what about people who aren´t sure? People who actually expect something?
Secondly, A PAC is a slush fund and often viewed as legal money laundering. Palin has controversial money issues already. Designer clothes in trash bags, McMansions being built whilst building public arenas and strip malls, The state having to fund family travel expenses, state employees working on national affairs, the list goes on AND ON.
I think Mrs. Palin may be getting into a Waterloo excepting nation wide funding now.
She isn´t presidential material anyway, what will she do when she actually HAS to debate another republican? She will be lost.
January 28th, 2009 at 6:52 am
By the way. Tina Fey used alot of Palin transcripts VERBATIM. Yes, Fey added the word HOUSE, but she added it to an existing statement. Palin, and the campaign, SAID you can see Russia from Alaska (yeah, I GUESS! from a very small strip of Alaskan land, if you scrutenize). By saying she could SEE it and planes would have to fly over ALASKA she was saying she had experience in foreign affairs. Flimsy at BEST.
Lets not get caught upon minutia. YES, FEY added the word HOUSE, to illustrate the silliness of an existing premise held by Palin and company.
The people of America, for the most part, were very gauled by that statement.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I´m sorry for posting 3 times, but I am re-reading and finding it most interesting.
Mrs. Hanson isnt the only thing. RUMORS; RUMORS, yes, but Track Palin was arrested for tampering with school bus brakes. I dont know if that is TRUE, but check any search engine to get conflicting stories, and if it is true documents will be there for the checking…the point is THIS. What happens when someone really HAS TO take Mrs. Palin down, or FEELS he really has to? The ammunition is THERE for the using. These things have to be looked into NOW, not when she running.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Fooling with the School bus brakes! Wow, that does it, I’m never going to join the Palin camp. Haha!
“The ammunition is THERE for the using.” If there is so much other ammunition, why talk about some freaking school bus brake? I was just on a Left-Wing site and there silly talk against Mrs. Palin was entertaining as old as it is. I must say, one Left-Wing Gentleman had the decency to go after her on issues instead of bringing up such non-sense. I’d actually welcome such a troll to come to this site.
January 28th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Yes, the Left-Wing believes that Track Palin is a school bus trasher, hey perhaps he might be a school buses trasher, just like a stopped clock the Left-Wing media is correct twice a day. But seriously?! I know that there is a lot of wheeling and Dealing in court houses when it come to teen-age crime, but do you really think they would ship him off to Iraq in a plea-bargain arrangement. I suppose, I’ve seen it all, but this takes the cake. I’m in the wrong profession. It would be interesting to get into the mind of an Anti-Palinite. One could write a book on PDS.
Reports that Track Palin vandalized school buses aren’t true, says pal
NY Daily News ^
Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 9:26:20 PM by Chet 99
Reports that Track Palin vandalized school buses aren’t true, says pal
By NANCY DILLON DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF
Wednesday, September 10th 2008, 7:55 PM
Despite snowballing reports and rumors, Sarah Palin’s eldest son, Track, was not part of the gang of four teenagers who criminally vandalized 44 Alaska school buses in 2005, a key culprit told The News.
“Track wasn’t with me. Track had nothing to do with it,” participant Deryck Harris, 20, said Wednesday in an exclusive interview.
Citing an anonymous judicial source, the Anchorage radio station 1080 KUDO was the first to report last week that Track Palin was the unidentified 16-year-old delinquent who not only trashed the buses but also swiped the bottle of alcohol that fueled the teen rampage.
The National Enquirer will report his “involvement” in the “notorious” attack in its issue out Thursday.
“I was friends with him. We hung out. But he wasn’t there,” Harris said, describing the incident as a senior prank gone awry. “It was my high school mistake. It was a really bad choice. I’ve paid my restitution.”
Harris was expelled from school, wore an ankle monitor for 90 days, had to pay $4,000 and is on probation for five years. For community service, he did construction work on the Wasilla Bible Church that the Palin family attends in Wasilla.
Track Palin, 19, graduated from Wasilla High, joined the Army last year and is set to leave for Iraq this Thursday. Gov. Palin boasted of her son’s enlistment as she became John McCain’s surprise pick for vice president.
The McCain-Palin campaign declined to comment on the issue.
But rumors quickly swirled Track was forced to join up as penance for the alleged vandalism.
“I talked to him before he joined, and he was trying to decide between the Marines and the Army. It was totally his decision,” Harris, who now lives in Anchorage, said.
“Track Palin was not involved [with the vandalism],” confirmed Capi Coon, the mother of another Wasilla teen arrested for the destructive spree.
Authorities never identified the two other juveniles accused of deflating the tires on 44 buses, breaking mirrors and disconnecting the engine block heaters of 110 buses in sub-zero weather.
The incident forced the Mat-Su Borough School District, which includes Palin’s hometown of Wasilla, to cancel school for a day, according to the local paper the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:22 am
#214 “She (Palin) is a cancer on the party, and represents everything wrong with it. Incurious, woefully dogmatic, shamefully shortsighted.”
Pot and kettle, I’m telling you. Seriously, it’s not like there’s a lack of legitimate things to discuss concerning Gov Palin. Bus brakes? Affairs (that no one can verify)? Are you people so filled with hatred and loathing that you can’t see you are part of the infighting problem, and not part of the solution? That your words and deeds are one of the reasons the GOP is not rebounding yet? That calling for a purge of the party (which is what this is, really) is exactly the WRONG strategy right now?
I get that you’re upset your candidate didn’t win the nomination and wasn’t selected for VP. You seem mainly to be Gov Romney’s people (who mostly seem civilized, but are being defined by these loonies). You aren’t helping his cause. It’s like Gov Huckabee’s folks (same caveat as above) smearing Gov Romney. Is it revenge you seek? Is it frustration over losing? Stick to issues, and your guy stands a pretty good chance of winning the nod in ’12.
Hopefully, you’ll get this insanity out of your system before 2010, when we’ll be looking for every vote we can get to stem the tide of Pres Obama’s liberal legislation. If not, I expect Dems to cross 60 in the Senate, and 260-270 in the House.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Who cares? I sure don’t. Teens cover for each other all the time. Kids will be kids. He’s serving his country. The only problem I have with it is how many times Palin had to remind people her son was doing so. It was tacky.
Hey, did you guys know Palin has a son serving in Iraq?
January 28th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Palin seems to have a nice family, none of whom seem to mind stepping in front of the camera. Piper and Willow seemed particularly well-adjusted to me. My attitude is to leave her family alone.
Romney has a terrific family and I liked how all of his sons were working for him and were enthusiastic for him. Whatever his flaws as a politician, he obviously has a great personal life.
Giuliani’s family was so messed up that I really ended up disliking him as a result.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Ok, I see the story you posted. I DO think it IS a serious accusation. Tampering with school brakes means the breaks dont work, and kids ride the bus! That IS very serious.
DEVILS ADVOCATE OR NOT, the CHARGE is DEAD SERIOUS, whether Track Palin was convicted or not.
It´s malicious mischeif, Track Palin WAS sentenced to JAIL or the MILITARY. I am asking you? I am ASKING. That much is true, so what WAS he sentenced FOR?
How is this NOT important for a person running on christian family values?
HOW you brought up your kids, this is KEY, I would think for such a platform. Also, they are NOT KIDS, they are 18 years and older. They will NOT be OFF LIMITS.
No, really I hate to bring this up, but now you are diminishing it as it it WERE just salacious gossip. Fact is, son number one is a drop out and has a police record and didnt just enlist to do the right thing. It was a court decision. Next Palin has a daughter, also a drop out, and an unwed mother. That´s 2 out of the 5 kids. HOW IS THIS NOT IMPORTANT and DO YOU THINK IT WILL NEVER BE MENTIONED AGAIN? You are choosing a republican candidate for PRESIDENT. Be prepared to post alot of rebuttal articles as this thing unfolds….and guess who will be MORE unmerciless then the libs…the GOP.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Project much?
January 28th, 2009 at 10:15 am
“I am ASKING. That much is true, so what WAS he sentenced FOR?” I do not know Track Palin so I cannot say for certain what is true, but I believe him over the Left Wing media.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Deosil (or whatever other names you are posting under), the accusation is patently ridiculous. Not only do courts not offer such deals, but the military won’t take someone under those circumstances. Try dealing in facts.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:33 am
“but the military won’t take someone under those circumstances.”
BINGO!
January 28th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Unfortunately our party seems to get more impassioned about bashing our own candidates than those of the opposing party.
The Palin hating should calm down a little. I am a self confessed Rombot, but some of the Palin bashing is getting out of hand.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:09 am
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/09/10/2008-09-10_reports_that_track_palin_vandalized_scho.html
Track a drop-out? Nope, he graduated.
Track sentenced to anything? Nope, and that “jail or military” thing doesn’t happen much anymore.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Palin has enough dealbreakers without using personal family problems. It’s counterproductive because it forces people to defend her who otherwise would not do so. The MSM used these things against her and it actually helped her. They should have gone after legitimate criticisms.
From my point of view, Palin does have some character flaws and judgement problems. But we need to focus on qualifications, or lack thereof. There’s plenty of material without going personal.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:12 am
#232 “Palin has enough dealbreakers without using personal family problems. It’s counterproductive because it forces people to defend her who otherwise would not do so. The MSM used these things against her and it actually helped her. They should have gone after legitimate criticisms.
From my point of view, Palin does have some character flaws and judgement problems. But we need to focus on qualifications, or lack thereof. There’s plenty of material without going personal.”
Have I finally won you over, then?
January 28th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Well, I’m not necessarily going to stop saying things like “her ego is writing checks her brain can’t cash” or anything.
But, I did notice early on that the MSM was going overboard on all the wrong things, and it really bothered me because we didn’t get much investigation on more substantial things. She honestly does have some ethical red flags. And, obviously some fundamental deficiencies.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Martha, I disagree on the ethical issues you’ve mentioned, but at least you have something behind them and they can reasonably be linked to her job. While the comment is a little snide, it’s certainly not one I’d harp on.
“But, I did notice early on that the MSM was going overboard on all the wrong things, and it really bothered me because we didn’t get much investigation on more substantial things.”
Bingo! This happened with Pres Clinton, and is a large part of why he was re-elected. Throwing the kitchen sink at a politician will have one of two effects: (1) make them unelectable, or (2) make them immune to legit charges. The effect depends on the politician’s charisma and ability to spin a situation. Gov Palin is charismatic enough to pull off #2. Choose your ammo carefully!
January 28th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
“Have I finally won you over, then?” Time will tell, but your point was made.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
If Palin had some serious ethical problems, I assume the legislature would have at least considered impeachment. That was never on the table, and all the troopergate stuff pretty much fell off the radar after the election. The whole thing was much ado about nothing.