Palin Still Part Of The National GOP Rebranding Effort

Gov. Sarah Palin is not fully disengaging from political life.

The Alaska Republican sparked a certifiable tsunami of speculation about her political future when she announced last week that she was resigning from the governor's chair at the end of July. Since then, the conventional wisdom has been that she was making her first move toward running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. But others, notably NBC's Andrea Mitchell, have reported that she was removing herself from all levels and forms of political engagement.

As of today, that isn't true. Palin remains a member of the National Council for a New America, the upstart Republican organization established to re-brand the party. An official with House Minority Whip Eric Cantor's office, which started the effort, confirmed that the Alaska Governor remains on NCNA's panel, despite her self-removal from elected office.

The Congressman hasn't spoken with Palin since her announcement, the official said, adding that there is no reason to believe her status with NCNA has changed.

Which is not all that surprising.

While still in its nascent stages, the National Council for a New America seems to be the exact type of political vehicle to which Palin would attach herself (though she hesitated before joining its ranks). The group's defining purpose is to move the GOP to more stable footing as the 2010 elections approach. And while the NCNA hasn't advanced the ball much since its inception, it does have the capacity to play a significant role in revamping the party. For Palin, who remains very much a Washington outsider, the NCNA provides some contact with establishment figures as well as the ability to prove that she has remained committed to the Republican cause in her post-gubernatorial career.

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Comments

[dzent1]

06:00 PM on 07/08/2009

Rebranding: the Republican process of taking something rotten and making it just a little bit worse.

[Hammerofthor]

08:01 AM on 07/07/2009

The GOP is useless and rotten at the core. Sarah can only rebrand herself by stepping outside the circle of corruption , and perhaps forming her own party. She has many devotees.

[1differentdrummer]

06:32 AM on 07/07/2009

Re-branding. Isn't that what rustlers did in the wild west with a running iron? I'm sure that's it. They stole cattle and re-branded them. If they genuinely had a phiosophy would they need to go through this cosmetic process?

[Nicon]

05:47 AM on 07/07/2009

re-branding? As what? Uneducated crack heads?

[garyc4]

12:20 AM on 07/07/2009

Sarah is great for the Democratic party. I hope she gets the republican nomination. They need to get someone to represent the low end of the intelligence bell curve and appeal to the lowest common denominator.

[LemonMeringue]

11:57 PM on 07/06/2009

They would have to rewrite history and give every single person in the U.S. 8-year amnesia.

Dick Cheney is trying to rewrite the history.

[MGhamma]

10:49 PM on 07/06/2009

The GOP has already branded themselves as incompetent, inarticulate boobs. How does palin change that?

[indy girl]

11:58 PM on 07/06/2009

She emphasizes it even more!

[Deja Peterson]

10:23 PM on 07/06/2009

well if palin is part of the rebranding of the republican party, their still going to fail. but i guess it can be fun to watch.

[LemonMeringue]

09:00 PM on 07/06/2009

Rebranding won't work.

Rotten to the core, as long as the party is run by Dick Cheney and it always will be.

[nellie]

08:23 PM on 07/06/2009

Are they rebranding? They seem to be exactly the same party they've been for the past 30 years.

[DCinFrance]

07:00 AM on 07/07/2009

A brand is a façade...something that goes on the surface of things that have little to do with what's truly inside.

[gayinmt]

06:49 PM on 07/06/2009

How can she be part of the rebranding when she's exactly like all the rest?

[LemonMeringue]

12:01 AM on 07/07/2009

They didn't say they were going to get rid of the corruption.

[Budokan]

06:25 PM on 07/06/2009

I for one have NO problem with her being the Clown Face of the GOOP, lol. I couldn't think of a better person to represent them.

http://kennethmarkhoover.com

[osage]

06:08 PM on 07/06/2009

SARAH PALIN'S "POPULARITY" IS BASED ON HER GOOD LOOKS AND OR HER GENDER

Has there ever been a more shamelessly obvious example of a good looking woman exploiting her sex appeal to reach undeserved and or unwarranted heights of personal gain, adulation, notoriety and or celebrity than in the case of Sarah Palin?

Paris Hilton? Anna Nicole Smith? Pamela Anderson?

How about Eleanor Roosevelt? Golda Meir? Margaret Thatcher?

The first three names are meant to be an apple to apple comparisons to Sarah Palin, while the last three are meant to be ironical in that they actually earned and deserved to be respected and revered.

[SaquaroSue]

06:31 PM on 07/06/2009

I personally feel that describing Palin as good looking is stretching it. She's always struck me as being more what I would call well preserved, but somehow able to spend a great deal more time futzing with elaborate hairstyles and lavish application of makeup than a typical woman with five children and a responsible position at work would have to waste. It is probably also pretty useful to have other people paying for very expensive, flattering designer clothing to enhance your image.

In reality, I know many women her age with far more natural beauty, they simply cannot or do not choose to spend the first several hours of each day primping it up for the cameras.

My honest opinion of her look is that it comes off as fake, glossy, and hard. YMMV

[DCinFrance]

07:07 AM on 07/07/2009

I agree with much of what you say, Sue. She dresses for men. It is nothing short of manipulation. However, many are drawn to beauty, no matter how much is needed to be applied. It's called the "halo effect". We tend to a fix undeserved attributes to "beautiful", like intelligence and competence. Sure, many can see through it, and many more with enough exposure to the person. There will always be those unfortunately that will never get passed what they see.

[LemonMeringue]

11:59 PM on 07/06/2009

Not. That. Good-looking.

She really isn't. She is mildly photogenic, in other words, her regular features are regular when shot from any angle. That is all.

[lvdragonlady]

05:34 PM on 07/06/2009

How does her quitting help the 're-branding' of the GOP?
Is it because they are now all losers? quitters? clueless???
Really don't care was just asking.

[SaquaroSue]

05:49 PM on 07/06/2009

Maybe they will be trading in their long standing Elephant logo for a Quitbull with Lipstick?

[RRG64]

05:20 PM on 07/06/2009

how much more pathetic can the GOP get?

lmao