Hardball Panel Debates Palin's Presidential Ambitions: "She Thinks She's Got A Shot... But She Needs An Education" (VIDEO)

Pat Buchanan and Newsweek's Howard Fineman joined Lawrence O'Donnell (filling in for Chris Matthews) on "Hardball" tonight to discuss Sarah Palin's presidential ambitions. Both think she has her sights trained on the Oval Office, however it's unclear if that means 2012 or beyond. Unsurprisingly, Buchanan, a staunch supporter of Palin, is a bit more bullish on her prospects than Fineman.

Fineman returned to a theme that has dogged Palin ever since she first stepped onto the national stage: her lack of knowledge on the pressing issues facing the nation.

I think Sarah Palin thinks that she's got a shot. And she's gonna make some money and try to get her head on straight and give it a shot. She's very popular at the conservative grass roots of the party, but she needs an education. She's got Bill Kristol here in Washington who's a friend of hers and a fan. Bill Bennett, Mary Matalin. She's got some people, but she's really got to study and learn the issues. She doesn't yet know them.

WATCH:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Comments

[demimckingwoodtx]

Sarah Palin needs to re-educate herself say from kindergarten.

[pammiethekid]

These people who support Palin with the caveat that she just needs to study up on the issues are idiots themselves. To seriously take on a run for the presidency should require one to have been intellectually curious and to have studied the political world (by which I mean other countries along with such things as the US constitution for the love of God) for the better part of one's life. I have an eleven year old grandson with a better intuitive grasp of current events than Palin has. She keeps going back to her rambling concoctions of incoherent sports analogies and simple neo-con catch phrases because that is how her mind works, that is what she is capable of. Studying, if you could tie her down and make her do it, would not help her.

[arvad]

I agree. It's insulting to the voter to imply that anyone can just be given an intellectual makeover and be slotted into place as a politician. A real leader would have critical thinking skills, an analytical mind, a firm grasp of history and current events, wisdom, depth, character ... No one would simply pick someone off the street because they were attractive and say "Now you're a lawyer/doctor/professor/accountant/CEO/whatever and we'll give you a couple of years training." In real life you either have the credentials for the job or you don't. The standards should be pretty high to be President of the United States.

[Gina6448]

I need to express myself with all of the news stories surrounding Ms. Palin. I am an educated AA woman and have traveled around the world via the military. I am soooo tired of hearing about this woman all of the time. We have too many problems in this country to solve than to spend our time focusing on her. And we wonder why we are towards the bottom of the list educationally compared to other countries. Our issues of the time need our best and brightest and not someone who is power hungry and LAZY educationally and cultrually. STOP comparing her to President Obama cause she is WAY OUT of his league. I want a woman to represent the USA that inspires and encourages us to help each other and she does neither. She is vindictive, conceited, mean spirited, and uneducated . They are laughing at us overseas. Wonder why we are getting our butts kicked educatioanlly from other countries, this is why. We are focused on the WRONG THINGS. If Ms. Palin wants to show what she is made of, she needs to sit down with some extremely highly educated and "BAD" sister CEO's in a forum. This is NOT A GAME or A TV SHOW , THIS IS REAL LIFE. So, STOP reporting on Palin. If she is not ready to PLAY with the BIG BOYS, get out of THE GAME completely and most of all STOP WHINING AND PLAYING THE VICTIM, cause it is NOT EVEN

[maigesheng]

I like Laurence O. But that was really a Bill O lead in, wasnt it?

[losangelesgirl]

This is the best think Palin could have done. She is not meant for the mean cold world of politics, and showed that once again by resigning to help her family. She has been picked on by liberals and conservatives for several months, and she couldn't take it anymore. People are prejudiced against a good-looking woman in office, but she did nothing to save her case by staying uninformed about her issues.

[miketothad]

When I saw that O'Donnell was hosting, I had to check my chimney for Santa Claus.
His "Electric Stuff" quip made me do a spit-take.

[JanSP1971]

MSNBC please be the first news network to let the Palin family soap opera die it's natural death. It's time to cancel this show, let's not continue to feed the beast. I have too so enjoyed it but it has gotten so out of control and we are giving this crazy lady just what she wants and what she lives for. We must all stop the insanity let's not continue to play the Palin game. I say we take our ball and go home.

[bellenoir55]

From your mouth to God's(and MSNBC's) ear......

[sassafra]

study? how is studying going to help palin? she has a degree in journalism yet when asked was unable to name even one newspaper or periodical that she reads. she couldn't even dredge one up that she used to read during her college years.

[InDaZone]

I seriously find it amazing that people in the media keep entertaining the idea of her running for President. She can't even run a state.

Although it would definitely be entertaining to watch her run again.

[iloveiowa]

o'donnell's tough as nails

[FortuneTeller]

Sara is an under-qualified quitter who lacks the discipline to educate herself on the real issues of government. She's a party girl (and I don't mean political party). So we shouldn't concern ourselves with her lofty aim. She is way off the mark thinking she has the slightest chance at the oval office. I will say it is entertaining to watch her in action...brings to mind Larry, Mo & Curly.

[zachman]

Lawrence O'Donnell rocks my world. He really needs his own show.

[graceland9]

Oh, if only she had a shot at 2012! But no - get the butter, she's toast. Instead, we'll have to deal with P@wlenty and Glove R0mney, which might actually require some real campaign strategy.

Oh, well. Yes, we still can!

[oldrwizr]

I hope she runs she will be the easiest to beat. Laughingstocks don't make good presidential candidates.

[ItHadToBeSaid]

Truly unbelievable!!

President Obama is quite obviously intelligent, educated, a global thinker, a critical thinker, and is fit for the Office of President. Yet, many democrats -- DEMOCRATS!! -- had to be prompted and CONVINCED to put their 'issues' aside and cast their votes for a Bl. ack man . . . and some of them STILL didn't do it.


Then along comes an inarticulate, less-than-intelligent b. !goted a!rhead and people talk as if they are SERIOUSLY entertaining the idea of her becoming president. Its absolutely astounding.

Just unbelievable . . .

[graceland9]

naaaaah - she's done. Obviously it's a slow news week. Not like there's anything going on in Iraq or Iran or Afghanistan or Russia or South Carolina or anything like that.

[MikeElPaso]

You're so right. The only explanation that makes any sense to me is the fascination by a segment of our population on celebrity worship and hucksterism.

[DalKimball82]

It really is unbelievable. I don't understand this continued belief by some that she is Presidential material, she is not and IMHO she will never be.

[miketothad]

Right on.
I could be resentful for the number of votes that actually went to McCain/Palin,
But, I choose to be proud that we made the much much wiser choice.
Every day is still like a campaign day to me.

[flydoghead]

cut and run sarah