To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Sarah Palin’s scheduled political trip to Iowa this month marks a shift from near silence in the leadoff presidential nominating state to the kind of outreach common among White House prospects. Palin’s plan to headline the Iowa Republican Party’s annual fall fundraiser on Sept. 17 is solely to help raise money for the state party’s candidates, the former Alaska governor’s aides said. And one trip to Iowa is a long way from a successful campaign for the state’s 2012 presidential caucuses, still 18 months away, Iowa party insiders said.
But Palin’s recent overtures to Iowa reveal a change in posture that puts her in a position — like other 2012 presidential prospects already laying campaign groundwork in Iowa — to build goodwill and relationships with influential activists, state Republican officials said. -- Des Moines Register
Idea. Palin doesn't campaign for President. She doesn't run for President. She simply appears. Everywhere. Backing winners. Amassing cash. Drawing crowds. Putting Mitt, Newt, Huck, and everyone else with a quirky nickname in deep shade. People start wondering aloud. Aren't these guys yesterday's news? Weren't these guys flawed candidates last time (or times) around? A wave of resignation sweeps over the low, dull buzz of sneaking desperation: Why not Sarah? She's already -- yes -- the de facto nominee. Nominated by acclamation. None of the other guys are this popular. This ubiquitous. This famous. Sarah is Destiny...who are we to dare to defy it?
Well, that's one attitude. But the bigger and badder Palin gets, the sharper and better a contrast is drawn by the would-be candidates who are new to the game -- you know, names like Barbour, or Daniels...
PS. At the largest venue in Anchorage, on September 11th, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck are doing...something.
- Comment (13)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
Comments :
May '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
I heard Bob Beckel earlier today referring to candidates endorsed by Palin as if they were her puppets... as if their only appeal with voters is Palin's favor. I wondered if Beckel's choice of words were strategic or merely delusional. Palin is the new Bush, apparently.
Jul '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
She makes me nervous.
I'm starting to smell narcissism.
Pretty narcissism. Perky narcissism.
But narcissism nevertheless.
We need a workhorse, not a show pony.
Extending the metaphor - Mitch Daniels is a plowhorse.
Chris Chistie is a Clydesdale.
I will now duck for cover....
Edited on Sep 1, 2010 at 12:41pmJun '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
I think she might want to be one of Alaska's Senators. Look at how long Ted Stevens was there, and how much power he had. It's almost better than being President. But, it takes a lot of money, and that means storing up lots of GOP fundraising IOUs.
Jun '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Kenneth...
What, no mule?
Jun '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
I wish I had a better reason for supporting Sarah Palin than imagining my sheer delight in the eye-bulging, red-faced, mouth-foaming apoplexy of the academic, Hollywood, media and political left at President-elect Palin (hopefully by a few hundred votes in a FL recount).
Maybe its better just imagined.
So Rob, there is the opening sequence for the pilot, then the swearing-in Bible in one hand, baby in the other, Washington-insiders misunderestimating the beautiful, but kinda ditzy president, the first crisis when all America comes to respect their new president. West Wing, Commander-in-Chief, and American President but funny this time
Edited on Sep 1, 2010 at 1:46pmRe: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Actually, Pilgrim, that's a pretty good pitch.
But I'm persuaded on the Senate issue: Sarah Palin would be a terrific senator.
Jul '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Rob Long: Actually, Pilgrim, that's a pretty good pitch.
But I'm persuaded on the Senate issue: Sarah Palin would be a terrific senator. · Sep 1 at 6:51pm
I wonder if she could be elected Senator in Alaska these days. I understand they think she's gone uppity.
May '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
cdor: Kenneth...
What, no mule? · Sep 1 at 1:11pm
Maybe that would be Haley Barbour: "Yuh darn raht ahm uh me-u-u-ule." Love that guy. His best line today over at U.K.:"The problem is not the deficit; the problem is spending. And raising taxes is the enemy of controlling spending." He might be a sleeper, and he sure as heck'll have the loyalty of influencial governors.
If our whole bench gets in the game in 2012, it'll be pure fun.
May '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Kenneth
Rob Long: Actually, Pilgrim, that's a pretty good pitch.
But I'm persuaded on the Senate issue: Sarah Palin would be a terrific senator. · Sep 1 at 6:51pm
I wonder if she could be elected Senator in Alaska these days. I understand they think she's gone uppity. · Sep 1 at 7:10pm
...and yet her mere endorsement just got a relative nobody a primary win. She'd win in a landslide.
Jul '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Scott Reusser
Kenneth
Rob Long: Actually, Pilgrim, that's a pretty good pitch.
But I'm persuaded on the Senate issue: Sarah Palin would be a terrific senator. · Sep 1 at 6:51pm
I wonder if she could be elected Senator in Alaska these days. I understand they think she's gone uppity. · Sep 1 at 7:10pm
...and yet her mere endorsement just got a relative nobody a primary win. She'd win in a landslide. · Sep 1 at 7:20pm
There was an interesting article up somewhere this morning saying that she lost because she ran a lousy campaign and failed to counter Miller's untrue assertions that she was against repealing Obamacare.
I also think she lost because of the anti-insider mood. You don't get much more "inside" than having your father appoint you Senator and being Mitch McConnell's poodle.
I've never been a huge believer that endorsements swing elections. And Palin does have a mixed record. If one were to be cynical, one might conclude that Palin has a pattern of betting on the obvious winning horse. She didn't endorse Miller until the last hours, when the die was cast.
May '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
That's not how Miller portrayed it on Hugh Hewitt tonight, but--who knows--you might be right.
Jul '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
How did he portray it?
Jun '10
Re: To Iowa and Beyond: Watch Palin Like a Hawk(eye)
Kenneth #10: "There was an interesting article up somewhere this morning saying that she lost because she ran a lousy campaign and failed to counter Miller's untrue assertions that she was against repealing Obamacare."
That article is on a macro key: Just search and replace @loser with "Creigh Deeds", "Jon Corzine", "Martha Coakley", "Jan Murkowski"