Palin is running. No doubt about it.

[slater71]

The idiot was on Fox this morning screeching her talking points and for sure left open to run in 2012. Now, we need Rove to run Jeb against her and watch the repubs implode.

[msongs]

1. she is only it for the publicity which = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ nt

[pampango]

18. Exactly. Implying she's running boosts book sales and speaking fees and she seems to like the money.

Not that she would never, ever run, but the money is more important to her now. Being a "potential 2012 presidential candidate" makes her more money than just being a past, failed vice-presidential candidate. :)

[Imajika]

2. She is definitely running...

It's been obvious for awhile.

[spanone]

3. rove will end up loving sarah, trust me. they are partners in crime.

[sufrommich]

4. Good, that's a guaranteed Dem win in 2012. nt

[Harry Monroe]

10. I wouldn't bet on that. Don't "misunderestimate" the stupidity of the American voter

If Palin becomes president in '12, I believe the Mayan prophecies will come true!! As for me, I will move to Canada if that woman becomes Commander-in-Chief. God help us!!

[sufrommich]

11. She's got too many negatives. We would destroy her. nt

[tibbiit]

15. I agree with you

I dont wish for her to be the nominee. People are fooling themselves that she cant be elected.
I dont think any dem can win against her when she has the media and the full republican propaganda machine at her back.
tib

[sufrommich]

17. You don't think any dem can win against her?

You're giving her power that she doesn't really have. Don't forget, she was rejected as a candidate in 2008 and her approval ratings have actually gone down since then.

[spanone]

21. unfortunately she has the power of ALL THE MEDIA

palin would be a fart in a hurricane if the media hadn't propped her up from the beginning.

they have allowed her to set her speaking terms

they have championed her in every possible way

[sufrommich]

25. No, she doesn't. She is not all powerful. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

5. I agree. Saw an interview where she used the "if there is nobody else" line

and to a diva there is never anyone else as able as she is.


I also agree that her main motivation is making money for herself, but she could be planning on replenishing the coffers after her one term.

[lonestarnot]

6. It will be a fucking drag to have to look at and hear that freak for months.

But fun to look at the result.

[spanone]

8. with our current media, the results could be devastating

the assumption is she would lose....the media will not allow that to happen

[lonestarnot]

16. She would lose.

[slater71]

23. For sure

My wife and I were just talking about that. I could not stand the fucking screech for four years. I would not listen or look at her if see did make it for president.

[slater71]

24. Not looking or listening. I will read what was said.

[lonestarnot]

26. I may or may not.

[quinnox]

7. Hope so

It would make the republican race more entertaining to watch. Between her and Mitt Romney, it will be a barrel of laughs.

[CanonRay]

9. That ego won't let her NOT run

IMHO

[IDemo]

12. The implosion will be complete after she loses the repub nomination

and her third (tea) party run results in a split reich wing.

Don't fear the mama griz.

[sufrommich]

14. Wouldn't that be loverly? nt

[ejpoeta]

13. it will get her more money and extend her 15 minutes. i don't think she actually

cares about winning or being president. just wants more money.

[KharmaTrain]

19. Good...Her Ego Will Destroy That Corrupt Party...Shades of '98

I didn't think Jebbie would be in the 2012 mix but I also see Rover's hand behind the scenes that brings back some ugly memories of 1998. After Dole embarassed the party in '96 the powers that be...led by Rove...chose little georgie to be the defacto nominee. Big money was raised (sound familar??) and the nomination was bought and paid for. McCain tried to ruin that party and ended up getting steamrolled. The big money elite were determined to win in 2000 and if that meant buying and stealing, so be it. I see a similar situation developing again.

My bets are shortly after this election, there'll be another confab with the Kochs, Bob Perry, the De Vos' and other GOTB fat cats who will annoint Jebbie or some other proxy for 2012. Those corporate millions that flew all around the country this year will focus on whomever is the corporate "standard bearer"...building up an overwhelming war chest. Mooselini doesn't stand a chance.

What she will do is what McCain did in 2000...be a turd in the punchbowl. She'll realize (maybe) that she burned the wrong bridges and all the winking and running to Dreck won't help. The big boys are playing for keeps and she ain't allowed in the treehouse.

[marmar]

20. I think her "Do Not Use After" date has passed.

nt

[HipChick]

22. Once her boy Miller goes down on Tues, her image of a king maker will be highly tarnished

I refuse to give into the fears about her running..in 2yrs, she hasn't shown that she has the substance to handle a Presidential run...I don't think she actually wants to win..its more profitable for her to run and lose, play victim and make more $$$..People mistake her for a politician - she's an opportunist..and a narcissist

[tanyev]

27. That election is two years away.

She'll tire of it long before then. If she even makes it to the GOP primaries, I bet she quits in a hissy-fit when her competition starts being mean to her.

[Erose999]

28. I think if she runs she will make peace with Rove and the rest of the mainstream GOOP.

Palin, as we all know has no principles to stand on. Her clash with Rove and the others is purely a matter of ego v/s ego. They both want to be thought of as the "kingmaker". Eventually Palin will recognize that her only redeeming value for the GOOP is that she's a "face" who people identify as folksy, and that she NEEDS Rove, Cheney, etc as they are the brains of the operation.

The future of the Tea Party will depend on the upcoming election, but I think the BEST outcome for the 'bagger movement would be to LOSE. Because if they were to win, they would have to campaign with their record legislative failures and screw-ups.

[Hubert Flottz]

29. Somebody hand her an I pad!

[Glimmer of Hope]

30. Bring it on! I think more people despise her with a passion than

think she is the bee's knees.

[Douglas Carpenter]

31. I really, really doubt it

she loves the money and star treatment and is milking it for all she can get ... but on the other hand:


http://www.gallup.com/poll/141341/palin-favorable-among-republicans-tops-others-gop.aspx

Still, in raw strategic calculations - Jeb Bush is probably their best bet. He is about the only one who might have the ability to fire up the base of the Republican Party (the crazies) - while not appearing either too extreme or too fundamentalist like Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin or too boring and too Mormon like Mitt Romney.

Jeb would probably be about the only one I have heard of so far who could satisfy the lunatic base without completely alienating GOP-leaning independents and country club Republicans.

He does have the image as the nicer and smarter Bush which would lessen the negative impact of potential GOP voters who came to dislike and distrust George W. while at the same time sharing the name with a President who is still wildly popular with the fundamentalist and social conservative base. Frankly, politically speaking I think that he would benefit from most of the political advantages of the Bush name and attract little of its disadvantages. This has nothing to do with the real Jeb Bush - this has to do with commonly held perceptions. He doesn't need to appeal to 55% of the voters. He only needs to pass the psychological litmus test enough to make winning the election reasonably plausible. I think it would be difficult for any Republican candidate to both satisfy the nutty Palinesque base of today's Republican Party and to also appeal to enough independents to form an electoral majority. It would be difficult to impossible for Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin to do that even if they might have the ability to win the party's nomination. Mitt Romney might be able to win a general election. But I do not think he could win the Republican Party nomination, given the way the party is configured today. I suspect Jeb Bush is the one who could quite plausibly win both the nomination and the general election - not that I want that to happen, of course.