Palin In 2012? Pundits Speculate

Marc Ambinder suggests:

There's a suspicion in some McCain loyalist precincts that Gov. Sarah Palin is beginning to play the Republican base against John McCain -- McCain won't let her campaign in Michigan...McCain won't let her bring up Jeremiah Wright... McCain doesn't like her terrorist pal talks....

Think ahead to 2010...2011...2012.

Palin is ambitious. Very ambitious.

And if she wants the job, she's easily the frontrunner to become THE voice of the angry Right in the Wilderness. She is a favorite of talk radio and Fox News conservatives, and speaks their language as only a true member of the club can. (Her recent Limbaugh interview was full of dog whistles that any Dittohead would recognize. Including her actual use of the word ditto.)

New York Magazine has rounded up more speculation on a Palin presidential run. Johnathan Chait agrees with Ambinder that Palin is already distancing herself from McCain and boldly predicts that she will be the next nominee. Chris Cilizza says Palin has already "hinted ... that she is almost assured to be a presidential candidate if the GOP ticket comes up short."

A skeptical Noam Scheiber says there's no chance: Palins's got no organization and she doesn't wear well over time. Tom Edsall wrote for the Huffington Post recently that voters have already soured on Palin. But conservative blogger Ross Douthat argues that those numbers won't stop her:

Sarah Palin might well be a formidable contender for the GOP nomination in 2012 even if she's massively unpopular with the sixty-five percent of America that doesn't vote in Republican primaries. In an Obama-era GOP, where the various factions and candidates are competing for control of a increasingly purist rump, isn't hard to see a scenario in which Palin unites evangelical voters and talk-radio conservatives - constituencies that split between Huckabee and either Romney or Fred Thompson, respectively, in 2008 - and rides that bloc to victory against a field that's just as divided as it was in '08.

Comments

[dmnewberg]

I heard that McCain is working on a transition team. I understand that he has already selected a food taster, to begin working as of inauguration day.

[BigSurf]

Whatever is left of the GOP base after the election can move to Alaska with her and try to secede.

[gintheb]

Maybe this woman isn't as dumb as we like to think. Maybe she knew that the McCain campaign was using her from the start, so used them too.

[gintheb]

Naahhhhh, she's just dumb.

[mjb5406]

I hope that, well before 2012, Palin is found guilty of ethics violations, thrown out of office, and is serving a sentence (with her fellow Republicans) somewhere. She is an embarrassment, but REALLY good for the Democrats!

[Artos]

I just had a good laugh while reading a Yahoo news item regarding Palin going "Rogue" on McCain. Imagine that, a Maverick going Rogue, now there is an irony.
As for Palin coming back to haunt us in 2012, I wouldn't be too worried about that cause she will soon learn that she is Persona Non Grata in her own state. I predict that she will fade into the sunset. After the mill she is being put through I doubt she will want to face it all again in the future. Additionally she and hers are not the kind of people who can keep their noses clean. When it comes to misusing government for their own purposes they seem to be right at the trough. Besides I think she will find hunting moose, caribou and wolves preferable to being the subject of the Hunt (Newsmedia).

[hardesty]

Maverick and Rogue sound like X-Men. I hope to God you are right. I do not want to see her or hear her ever again.

[suzek55]

O h dear God. I cannot imagine anything more catastrophic than that stupid woman being president other than an electorate that puts her in there.Please please let sense prevail !

[Jazzcomedian]

If Tim Russert hadn't died, there is no way that Gov. Palin could have avoided going on Meet The Press, and been taken even remotely serious as the VP nominee.

[jelly450]

I don't think she will be back in 2012. I think that her flaws have been shown and I am doubtful she will get re-elected as Gov of Alaska. If she is again found guilty of ethics violations she will more than likely receive some type of punishment from the state. Also by 2012 her prop aka baby will be an issue for her campaign. Right now he is acting like a baby, wait until he is 3 years old when she really finds out what it like to have a special needs child. Anyway she would be a fringe candidate and there are better right-wing republicans that have broader appeal, like Huckabee

[RtheK]

I have been waiting for the last 2 months to hear an something original, insightful, or thoughtful from Palin about policy and, so far, excluding her obviously tightly scripted appearances and speeches she continues to appear painfully vacuous.

And just so Republicans don't have to look up the word vacuous
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
vac-u-ous [vak-yoo-uhs] adjective
1. without contents; empty
2. lacking in ideas or intelligence
3. expressing or characterized by a lack of ideas or intelligence; inane; stupid.

Any questions?

It is absolutely breathtaking to me when I read these GOP posters singing the praises of Sarah Palin and how she's the future of the Republican party... All I can say is good on ya! If you want to insure that the Democrats have the White House for the next 2 or 3 millenia then keep putting up candidates like Sarah Palin.

[yerachm]

First, we have to see what happens to the GOP after the election. Under their tent you find ideological conservatives, frugal libertarians and ardent pro-life Christians, to name a few. No telling where that's going.

Second, to support her claim as the fiscal conservative, she must hand back to the feds all the millions that the Alaska congresssional delegation wins in earmarks. "Thanks but no thanks" to every dollar. That will anger the delegation - which still has substantial clout in Alaskan Republican politics - as well as those Alaskans who like to be on the federal dole.

Third, the more we learn about her - and see her in action - the more the average American will see that she's a shallow opportunist, whose main strength - like McCain's - is personal ambition.

Fourth, and last - she loses hands down - to Jeb Bush. Bye bye Sarah.

Jim in Israel

[Artos]

yerachm,

I have a feeling we are already seeing the trend for the immediate future of the Repugs. They are already showing signs of imploding. Already there are recriminations from every side as to who is to blame for their poor showing this election and also I'm pretty sure that the sensible bunch from that Party are already unhappy with what their last Great Idiot has done for them.

[peterhowitt]

Fries with that?

[peterhowitt]

She is a perfect case of ambitious curiosity over intellectual curiosity.

Instead of 'How much more can I learn?' her mindset is "how far can I get on the little I know'.

[Artos]

peterhowitt,

that seems to be a trait that the Neocons have in common.

[seattledemocrat]

In her first "press conference" yesterday, Palin showed yet again her lack of education and intellect and how small-minded she is. Her speech yesterday was about supporting special needs kids. What she displayed again is her amazing contempt for education and science.

She mocked the use of fruit flies in medical testing as the most riduclous thing she's ever heard. When in fact, the use of fruit flies in medical science has helped in the screening for diabetes, for cancer drugs, for autisum.

Palin's serious lack of intellect and interest in educating herself on the basic information required to hold the job she has been nominated for, is staggering.

[GrammieJ]

When I think about 2012 and Palin, I immediately "PUKE". If this person is the direction for the new GOP, wow they are in deep trouble.
Since chosen without vetting properly, the news, public and her own state of Alaska have helped with her vetting process. I think we all see clearly who she is. Some say "ambitious", I say "total fake" with dreams to control. This is not what I view as 2012 material.
Good luck GOP, go hunting again!!

[CraigE707]

I noticed that Sara is campaigning in Iowa today. (I am sure others on this board have pointed out the same thing.)

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Calendar/Detail.aspx?guid=b3304dd2-3d20-4f17-b154-99c2d95bad7e

Why would she be in Iowa right now if she wasn't thinking about 2012???

Iowa has been in Obama's column for several months now.

I hope she gets the nomination in 2012.