In Palin Tour, No Sign of 2012 Run

[question everything]

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

In Palin Tour, No Sign of 2012 Run

By PETER WALLSTEN

One of the biggest questions about Sarah Palin's new book is whether her promotional tour, which starts this week, is a prelude to a 2012 presidential bid. So far, the answer appears to be no, at least according to Republican activists in Iowa and New Hampshire. The two early-voting states are buzzing with Republicans angling for support to challenge President Barack Obama. Ms. Palin is conspicuously absent. Would-be rivals Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former New York Gov. George Pataki called the newly elected Republican mayor of Manchester, N.H., with good wishes this month. But not a peep from Ms. Palin.

Ms. Palin's book tour includes a Dec. 6 stop in Sioux City, Iowa. But she declined an invitation to appear at a Nov. 21 fund-raiser for the conservative Iowa Family Policy Center, which had reserved a Des Moines sports arena in anticipation of her attendance. "All these other national figures are coming here to help us, and she's coming here to sell books," said an Iowa Republican official. Added Michael Dennehy, a Republican consultant who worked for 2008 nominee John McCain: "People are anxious to see what she's going to do, but at this point there's no evidence of Sarah Palin organizing in New Hampshire or having any interest in organizing." A spokeswoman for Ms. Palin didn't respond to a request for comment.

Whether or not she runs for president, Ms. Palin has over the past year amassed an enthusiastic following that gives her enormous influence in her party. Her ability to tap a large Web audience on the social-networking site Facebook, as well as a growing email database at her political action committee, SarahPAC, means Ms. Palin can mobilize grassroots activists who operate outside the traditional party establishment.. A similar model of building support outside the party structure helped Mr. Obama build his campaign last year while collecting 13 million email addresses that White House strategists hope will turn into an enduring political force.

Ms. Palin also remains a polarizing figure. Just 27% of adults view her positively, according to last month's Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. That sentiment, however, is shared by 52% of Republicans, and as a result, Ms. Palin's network is shaping up as the most energized bloc in the Republican Party. "We had a 16,000-seat arena, and the only person we could think of in the current mix who could fill it was Sarah Palin," said Bryan English, spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center.

(snip)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125840790856351153.html (subscription)

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A4

[tblue]

1. And Republicans still think she has the party's interest at heart?

"All these other national figures are coming here to help us, and she's coming here to sell books.". I coulda predicted that.

[question everything]

2. Even her comment to Oprah that right now she is thinking of 2010

Yeah, right

[PBS Poll-435]

3. What is with the "Ms. Palin?"

She is still married, right?

[question everything]

6. Oh, c'mon. All women now are being referred to as Ms.

regardless of marital status, just like... men.

The only exception are the ones who are so happy to be addressed as Mrs. John Smith, regardless of whether their name may Sarah, or Jane, or Cassandra.

[paparush]

4. The NY 23rd district race proved that Palin is electoral cyanide.

[Garam_Masala]

10. I am not so sure

What's his face the man they put up at the last minute, he was
the most stupid looking candidate I have ever seen. He reminded me of
that cross eyed character from Monty Python. And he came within 5000 votes
of winning? That was scary.

[paparush]

5. Net Art Gen -

[Garam_Masala]

7. 2012 is eons away in politics...all she wants right now

is to make $$Millions$$ with her book and speaking tour.

[question everything]

8. Like any good capitalist

No, wait. True capitalists produce something. And they provide jobs..

:shurg:

[Garam_Masala]

9. I don't know how many copies of her book will be sold

but I have to believe printing thousands of books should provide work
for paper makers, book binders, book store clerks, UPS drivers, etc.
Even Amazon has many workers busy processing record orders for that book.

Personally I will not buy that book "Going Rogue" and pad her profits.
If I get the urge to read it, I will get it from the library.