Palin says 2012 presidential bid a possibility

[scandal 951]

I hope she makes a run for it. May the best candidate win. It's a long, long slog through Iowa and New Hampshire, and there's no time like the present to start putting together a campaign team and a warchest.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/07/pal....run.tea.party/

Palin says 2012 presidential bid a possibility

February 7, 2010 6:03 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she would consider a run for president in 2012 if the situation was right for her family and the nation.

In an interview recorded Saturday and broadcast on "FOX News Sunday," Palin said she would run "if I believed that that is the right thing to do for our country and for the Palin family."

"I think that it would be absurd to not consider what it is that I can potentially do to help our country," Palin said, later adding: "I won't close the door that perhaps could be open for me in the future."

The interview was recorded before her keynote address Saturday night at what was billed the first national Tea Party convention. Palin, who had little national profile before running unsuccessfully for vice president on Sen. John McCain's Republican ticket in 2008, remains a leading GOP draw and an unofficial symbol of the Tea Party movement of conservative discontent with government.

The convention, which concluded with a dinner and Palin speech that cost more than $500 per ticket, was intended to begin transforming the Tea Party movement into a political force capable of influencing elections, organizers said.

"It's so inspiring to see real people -- not politicos, inside-the-beltway professionals -- come out, stand up and speak out for common sense conservative principles," Palin said in her speech to a crowd that gave her repeated standing ovations.

Calling the Tea Party movement a "ground-up call to action that is forcing both parties to change the way they're doing business," Palin said "America is ready for another revolution and you are a part of this."

In the interview with Fox, Palin said she believed President Obama would lose a re-election bid in 2012 if he fails to change the policies followed so far in just over a year in office.

If Obama "continues on the path that he has America on today," Palin said, "he's not going to win."

"That's what a lot of Americans are telling him today, and he's not listening,"

"Instead, he's telling everybody else, 'Listen up and I'll tell you the way it is.' Well, we have a representative form of government in our democracy. And we want him and we want Congress to listen to what the things are that we are saying."

In her speech, Palin cited the upset victory by Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by liberal Democrat Ted Kennedy as evidence of the popular discontent over Obama's policies.

She called on the administration to take note of the election results, saying "you better stop lecturing and start listening."

"The Obama/Pelosi/Reid agenda will leave us less secure, more in debt and under the thumb of big government," Palin said in reference to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Many of those attending the convention at Nashville's Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center said they are big Palin supporters.

Pam Silleman, a 52-year-old small business owner and Tea Party activist who traveled to the convention from California's Napa Valley, called Palin "the Tea Party's inspiration."

It's so inspiring to see real people, not politicos, inside-the-beltway professionals, come out, stand up and speak out for common sense conservative principles.

Asked if Palin should make a bid for the White House, Silleman said, "I would like to see her in a higher office but I don't know that she'll do it. I wouldn't want her to be hurt that bad."

Fremont Brown, a supporter who had "Palin 2012" bumper stickers with him, said Palin is "the right person."

"She has fervent heart and she's conservative," said the 59-year-old Brown, who owns a small business in North Carolina. "She was the only one truly qualified with executive experience of the four who ran in 2008. The others were glorified lobbyists."

But Palin's experience has frequently been called into question, most recently in a book that chronicles the 2008 campaign. "Game Change" by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann largely portrays the then-vice presidential candidate as wholly unprepared for the national stage and poorly versed in a range of pressing issues.

Palin has called the book "a bunch of BS from [McCain campaign manager Steve] Schmidt and those guys," Palin said. "It's pretty made up."

In the Fox interview, Palin said she receives daily e-mails from experts on topical issues that have helped her become "more astute" than she was during the 2008 election campaign.

[Dan J 277]

With the winner takes all approach for delegates in the Republican party, she just needs a strong showing at the early primaries to get the nomination.

Winning the election is another story. She has zero appeal outside of her niche.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

[Danno 1,228]

With the winner takes all approach for delegates in the Republican party, she just needs a strong showing at the early primaries to get the nomination.

Winning the election is another story. She has zero appeal outside of her niche.

With that I agree, but don't discount the ability to reform public opinion, she has both time and the forum for that..... not saying it would be easy but Ronald Reagan was "scary" to a large segment..... but the longer Carter served and the more they heard Reagan without the media filter, the more that changed into a landslide election.

The amazing thing about Politics is, both predictions and conventional wisdom are so often wrong.... and three years is an eternity.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If she becomes President we're doomed.

[Danno 1,228]

If she becomes President we're doomed.

By 2012 that will have already happened.

Can she re-doom us?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

By 2012 that will have already happened.

Can she re-doom us?

If you think she'd be a good leader, I have no further comment.

[scandal 951]

With that I agree, but don't discount the ability to reform public opinion, she has both time and the forum for that..... not saying it would be easy but Ronald Reagan was "scary" to a large segment..... but the longer Carter served and the more they heard Reagan without the media filter, the more that changed into a landslide election.

The amazing thing about Politics is, both predictions and conventional wisdom are so often wrong.... and three years is an eternity.

That's an interesting comparison, to Reagan. And somewhat apt.

Not entirely though. By 1980 Reagan was established as a much more serious heavyweight candidate. He had been a two-term Governor of the biggest state in the nation, with a well defined and articulated position on key issues. Palin has abruptly resigned in mid-term of her first term as Governor of a relatively small state, and for the life of me I can't see her seriously addressing key issues other than parroting the sound bites of the day. That doesn't disqualify her, but she has her work cut out for her.

[Danno 1,228]

That's an interesting comparison, to Reagan. And somewhat apt.

Not entirely though. By 1980 Reagan was established as a much more serious heavyweight candidate. He had been a two-term Governor of the biggest state in the nation, with a well defined and articulated position on key issues. Palin has abruptly resigned in mid-term of her first term as Governor of a relatively small state, and for the life of me I can't see her seriously addressing key issues other than parroting the sound bites of the day. That doesn't disqualify her, but she has her work cut out for her.

Her work is certainly cut out for her but we learned not long ago "on the job experience" is not nearly as meaningful as the inspiration of speech.

However as a nation, the electorate might demand more this next time around.

[Dan J 277]

Her work is certainly cut out for her but we learned not long ago "on the job experience" is not nearly as meaningful as the inspiration of speech.

However as a nation, the electorate might demand more this next time around.

The most important issue right now is the Economy. It will probably recover enough in the next 3 years to the point where its less of an issue and Obama will be reelected. If not, Palin is not the best candidate for the Republicans to put forward to address that issue. If they do, Obama will basically win by default.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

She lasted 2.5 years as governor, she's not gonna last 2 years as a presidential candidate. Running for the highest office - let alone holding the highest office - is not a job for quitters. Sorry, Sarah but your presidential bid would very likely end in that place so dear to your heart. Remember, the one that you wanted that $235MM bridge bulit to before you decided that pork-barrel spending is a bad idea?

[Danno 1,228]

She lasted 2.5 years as governor, she's not gonna last 2 years as a presidential candidate. Running for the highest office - let alone holding the highest office - is not a job for quitters. Sorry, Sarah but your presidential bid would very likely end in that place so dear to your heart. Remember, the one that you wanted that $235MM bridge bulit to before you decided that pork-barrel spending is a bad idea?

THe case against Palin will have to rest on more that the "quitter" line of attack as most Politicians have been elected to one office only to ditch it to run for another or take a job which gets them closer to power.

Of course one can try to get by on the excuse.... "But they do it to serve the people in a new capacity"....... but that whole logic suggests "serving The People" begins and ends with being on the government payroll.

Just sayin..... it's a non starter.

[Dan J 277]

THe case against Palin will have to rest on more that the "quitter" line of attack as most Politicians have been elected to one office only to ditch it to run for another or take a job which gets them closer to power.

Of course one can try to get by on the excuse.... "But they do it to serve the people in a new capacity"....... but that whole logic suggests "serving The People" begins and ends with being on the government payroll.

Just sayin..... it's a non starter.

Usually, when someone is elected to higher office, while still in a lower office, they quit that lower office only after they are elected. Or they decline to run again to focus on the campaign for the higher office. They don't quit in a middle of a term that would have finished long before the campaign for that higher office.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

THe case against Palin will have to rest on more that the "quitter" line of attack as most Politicians have been elected to one office only to ditch it to run for another or take a job which gets them closer to power.

Of course one can try to get by on the excuse.... "But they do it to serve the people in a new capacity"....... but that whole logic suggests "serving The People" begins and ends with being on the government payroll.

Just sayin..... it's a non starter.

Abandoning one office to seek another - usually higher - office is essentially what everyone does in a career whether public or private. Abandoning one office (or job) for essentially nothing is what's called quitting.

Interesting, too, how you managed to avoid Palin's support for the infamous bridge to nowhere - the picture book example of pork-barrel spending - only to decide later that pork-barrel spending is such a bad idea.

You know, aside from her lack of statue and policy knowledge, there are so many fronts on which a Palin candiacy could and would be taken apart. But hey, bring her. By all means, bring her. It'll be so entertaining.

Run Forrest Sarah Run.

[SMR 368]

With that I agree, but don't discount the ability to reform public opinion, she has both time and the forum for that..... not saying it would be easy but Ronald Reagan was "scary" to a large segment..... but the longer Carter served and the more they heard Reagan without the media filter, the more that changed into a landslide election.

The amazing thing about Politics is, both predictions and conventional wisdom are so often wrong.... and three years is an eternity.

Three years is an eternity, that's true. Palin's problem is that everyone likes her or doesn't based on who she is. She has to do something to win moderates and I don't think she has that.