Is this a sincere effort by the Iowa GOP to recuit Sarah Palin because they think she'll be a great draw? Or, was it arranged, as in one of those inside politics moves by operators that don't come with fingerprints? Let the speculation begin, assuming she accepts. I imagine Romney, Newt and Huckabee want to know, if they don't already.
Iowa Republican Party officials Wednesday said they are aggressively courting Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to headline the state GOP's premier annual fundraising event.
And they have put a well-connected Des Moines woman in charge of trying to land the 2008 vice presidential nominee and popular party figure in the leadoff caucus state.
Aides to Palin did not immediately respond to Des Moines Register inquiries about whether the outgoing governor would consider the invitation to appear at the Ronald Reagan Dinner. The event has become a popular and high-profile stop for would-be presidential candidates.
please god, let her hire a speechwriter with an ounce of talent.
I have no doubt she IS an effective medium, but there is no chance she will come up with the message on her own.
the speech doesn't have to be great-
start and end with reagan quotes, and channel zell miller on obama in between...
this is the point where the left is going to finally start ignoring her, WHEN she hits them back, hard. It doesn't even have to be heavy on policy, it can be just plain 'folksy'.
"I don't want to leave my kids with a mountain of debt..."
"govt needs to live within its means..."
"the strength of this country is within the people who fund govt, not the govt which doles it out..."
iowa?
people don't want policy speeches(that's a hint mitt). they want "one of them", saying the same things they are saying. "parrot politics" is the easy way to build a populist movement.
Posted by: mark l. | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 01:26 PM
Will she be paid for this?
Posted by: Todd | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 01:54 PM
She can get me to donate. Mitt, Newt and Huck cannot. This is the most basic reason they hate her.
Posted by: Peg C. | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 02:00 PM
"please god, let her hire a speechwriter with an ounce of talent.
I have no doubt she IS an effective medium, but there is no chance she will come up with the message on her own.
Posted by: mark l. | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 01:26 PM"
Oh no, no chance. I watched her speech at the Indiana Right to Life Banquet, and it was written by her. It was very personal, engaging and good all around. She was interrupted by several standing ovations.
Good grief, were you born an ass, or did you have to work at it?
Posted by: brian72 | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 02:13 PM
Hey Peg... No Mitt. No Newt. No Huck. And no JEB.
Posted by: Ran | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 03:05 PM
"there is no chance she will come up with the message on her own".
What in the hell are you talking about Mark? What do you mean she can't come up with a message on her own? You are basically saying that Palin isn't bright enough to come up with a message for the speech. Good grief. Well, I'm sayin you're an asswipe.
Posted by: tally | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 04:00 PM
The battle for 2012 primaries has already begun. David Frum couldn’t contain himself let out today that he expects Sarah to clean the clock in the primaries (he shares talking points with Kondracke n Murphy though). He’s also issued a call to Mitt Romney to renounce his conservative wooing of 2008 and come out explicitly as a moderate. The who’s who of conservative commentators are bashing Sarah, in NYT no less. They went nuclear over her resignation thinking it’d finish her off once n for all but her support is unchanged and that's making them more frantic than usual. Keane of CPAC has slammed her.
On our side FR is going absolutely crazy about her today. That site’s owner, JIM, has endorsed this far out. I’ve been tracking this thing pretty closely but the commentariat has come to the sudden horrifying conclusion that she’s still a contender and what more they don’t believe she’s just gonna help conservatives out, they believe she’s in for 2012 and she’s gonna win in the primaries.
The initial skirmishes are over. The war has started. It’s on.
Posted by: wisetrog | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 09:35 PM
No they're thinking about our now president that can't think or say anything without stuttering or stammering that needs help. Or how about good ole Joe, the gaffe a minute. You people can say stupid stuff about Sarah all you want but you just look like fools. I think the country now gets it, to bad some people don't. Is it because she's a woman, Trig, or she's beautiful inside and out? The people aren't buying it, say the polls.
Posted by: jann | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 09:54 PM
According to Fox News ticker, Palin will campaign for Rick Perry in the gov race. I'll probably vote for him now. And the fact that he showed up at a Tea Party without getting boo'ed a la Cornyn. And talking about that big ol' Tenth Amendment thing. Kinda cool, that.
"I voted for the Chick." (seen on a barn on I-81 in Virginia.)
Posted by: Scott | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 10:37 PM
I was at one of the tea parties Perry attended on the 4th-he signed the contract with the constitution so he's got my vote. Added bonus that Palin endorses him too. Hopefully she campaigns for him down here in Texas-be neat to see her at an event...
Posted by: Michaela | Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 10:53 PM
I wish I were smart like the conservative commintariat. "Hi, I'm a conservative commentator. You candidates must move to the middle, just like McCain"
The only reason Obama didn't have sixty-sixty-fice percent of the vote was Sarah, McCain did everything he could to lose by 75-25. These commentators had their candidate in '96, Bole, he lost big time. I "92 they had their candidate, Poppa Bush. They didn't buch care for George W, he won. Then they got their preferred candidate, McCain.
Note: Whatever the consevative commentators say, do the opposite. Sarah is totally unqualified to do anything but win elections. And then govern.
Posted by: Peter | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 02:13 AM
Mark,
you must have missed her speech this year at the right for life dinner. And then you must have forgotten her speech at the convention. In fact believe it or not I think that is why the left hates her so much. she was the only mainstream political leader that mocked Obama. her convention speech made their heads explode and they haven't been right since. there is a reason the comdiens do not crack jokes about Obama. Mocking is a very potent weapon (as the I can see Russia line shows) Or the gird your loins skit about biden. Both have left a lasting impression even thought neither politician said those things.
If Palin uses humor on Obama like she can (Andrew mitchel you are not listening interview) she will destroy the emperor.
Posted by: unseen | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 02:50 AM
No one knows what Palin's plans are politically except those who get all bent out of shape ( democrats and republican-democrats ) or those who adore her. I fiut neither group.
She is a naturally gifted speaker--but if she wants notoriety she will need to mix her natural gift with very clever points are current issues such as health care,cap and trade and immigration--beyond that bone up on foreign affairs and national security for the really big time.
Posted by: martin j. Smith | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 07:32 AM
A comment on Peter's remark on McCain's campaign. I agree with him on this. I felt McCain ran a very poor campaign at best. At worst I wonder at times why he was chosen and if his so called campaign was not currupted for the start.
I also feel as I have said before that the deocrate and republican-democrats
could not stand her because she verrd off "message" which was: We want Obama.
Posted by: martin j smith | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 07:39 AM
A comment on Peter's remark on McCain's campaign. I agree with him on this. I felt McCain ran a very poor campaign at best. At worst I wonder at times why he was chosen and if his so called campaign was not currupted for the start.
I also feel as I have said before that the deocrate and republican-democrats
could not stand her because she verrd off "message" which was: We want Obama.
Posted by: martin j smith | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 07:40 AM
This is a great time for 'wait and see'. I would love to see Palin make a credible run for the presidency but she'll have to carefully craft her message and work on marginalizing the nay-sayers and blatently vicious critics in both parties. I'm personally ready to support her but will wait and see how she progresses--McCain of 2000 disappeared in 2008, Clinton fell apart and now sold herself to Obama. The single biggest challenge, in my opinion, is for Palin to get control of her image and media in the press. Then again, the caracature of her they paint is so rediculous as to be unbelievable except by the most ignorant kool-aid drinkers.
Posted by: Matthew Weaver | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Memories are short. McCain had early on support of those who would never vote for him but knew he'd be a weak competitor in the Presidential Elections. Sarah fired a bunch of people up which scared the progressives. Not only does she look like a demographic the lefties hate (peeps in "flyover country") she also has the ability to get their votes.
Posted by: Sam Adams | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 02:53 PM
How stupid have Americans become. A Mullato with a very questionable past, no experience, who attended a HATE AMERICA first, and who makes love to his teleprompter because it loves him back, unlike his ugly wife, is President.
And Sarah Palin is getting advice from libs on how to run her life.
Posted by: gus | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 04:53 PM
"Romney, Newt and Huckabee "
Are these people still in the Republican Party? Who knew, I thought they dropped out long ago. Meanwhile there is no doubt Gov Palin is still in the Republican Party. I gladly donate to her, Sen DeMint, Sen Inofe, and Rep Bachmann. They have demonstrated their support for Republican ideals.
Posted by: Pagar | Friday, July 10, 2009 at 06:47 PM
As much as I adore Sarah Palin, her early withdrawal from her post as governor will come back to bite her in the behind. I wish she'd finished her term. "Inexperience" was a claim we could easily make about BO before the election, but will be difficult come 2012, because she left early without finishing her term.
Posted by: DagneyT | Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 07:43 AM
Alaska has a very unique "ethical" complaint format which the press seems not to want to discuss. Any jackass in Alaska can file such a complaint at no personal cost, leaving the filee to defend themselves - legally and financially. Prior to August, Alaska Democrats were decent - subsequently they have filed 15 of these - it kills time and money. She said forget it - she's not quitting but attacking from another direction. Very smart.
Posted by: juandeveras | Monday, July 13, 2009 at 04:11 AM
"Alaskans...I want you to hold me accountable!" -- Governor Sarah Palin during her gubernatorial acceptance speech. This woman is a Liberal's wet dream.
Posted by: Syntax | Monday, July 13, 2009 at 05:38 AM
I have yet to see anyone suggest what I see her doing: She doesn't intend to run for re-election as governor next year, but instead of stepping down then, she wants her lieutenant to run as the incumbent -- let him get a year of experience and demonstrate his competence and conservatism, the GOP won't run anyone against him in the primaries since he's the sitting governor, and it makes a far better transition and consistent policy for the state of Alaska. Governor Sarah Palin is doing what is in her view best for the state of Alaska first, and will deal with the impact on her future political ambitions later (such as they may be).
This makes her a far more desirable candidate in my view, because she is doing what she believes is right above her personal gain. We need more public servants like that.
Not to mention she's disarming the liberals' most potent weapon against her (ethics complaints against the governor).
Posted by: Alan | Monday, July 13, 2009 at 07:27 PM