Steele On Palin: "2012 Off The Table"

At a loss to explain Sarah Palin's resignation after months of putting herself in the spotlight, many pundits -- particularly conservatives who support her political career -- have suggested the Alaska governor is working on a 2012 presidential run. But Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele said, in no uncertain terms, that it simply can't happen.

"Not having talked to the governor, I take 2012 off the table right now simply because given everything she's going through personally, dealing with the financial mess that all these ludicrous investigations have put her and Todd in, at the moment, I think she's trying to focus on getting her house in order, her personal house in order," Steele told FOX News.

"I look forward to welcoming her out and helping us in our campaigns this fall if and when shes ready to do that. Sarah Palin will be the ultimate arbiter of when she will engage and how she will engage," he said.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) concurred.

"I like her a lot. But I think it will be very difficult for her to run in 2012 given everything's that's gone on the last nine months," he said, referencing to the ongoing drama regarding Bristol Palin, who gave birth to a son, Tripp, in late December, and the baby's father, Levi Johnston.

A sizable number of Republicans -- but less than a majority -- seem to agree that it's not a good idea. According to a Rasmussen poll, 40% think the resignation hurts her chances of winning the nomination in 2012.

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Comments

[Con Heartist]

I'm very happy to see that so-o-o many republicans read the Huffington Post ... it warms my heart they are so embracing of 'all' information. tee hee hee

[Con Heartist]

'Welcome her to help us campaign this fall ... ' OMG is there no relief! Run the bloody government to do something for the people ... not constantly campaigning for their party/selves ... politics WILL be the undoing of this great nation. GOVERN for goodness sake ... remember 'for the people ...'

[Honabet]

Hard to beloiee I'm agreeing with Michael Steele but I certainly hope
he's right. Take a step back from all the media hullabaloo and just think
about Sarah Palin as president. Dealing with the problems we have and
will continue to have in 2012 - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Israel and the
Palestinians, oil, energy, Wall Street - gives you chills just to think about it.

[Brent VanZytveld]

Chills is right. Currently we have a president who irrefutably has absolutely no more experience or knowledge than Sarah Palin and we are trusting him to competently deal with these issues. God help us!

[pennsykid2000]

Only if Republicans can actually start appreciating competence, logic, judgment, etc. in their political leaders will they recover. Doesn't seem likely given their fascination over Palin, the least prepared national candidate in many decades, perhaps ever.

[Tulka2]

Don't you think it more likely that a third party will come from the disillusioned left than that the wacky right can remake itself into dignified, 1950s style Republicans? The current lot of so-called Republicans are a withered branch. Progressive leftists are mobilized, are actually for a lot of things while the right finds pathetic solidarity in being against almost everything they see. (imo)

[Brent VanZytveld]

Seriously??????? Obama has all this logic, judgement, etc. (having trouble thinking of words?)?
Sarah Palin is every bit as prepared as Obama. But you're right. The majority of voters sadly don't consider these characteristics. The clearest evidence for that is our current president.

[Brent VanZytveld]

photo

Seriously??????? Obama has all this logic, judgement, etc. (having trouble thinking of words?)?
Sarah Palin is every bit as prepared as Obama. But you're right. The majority of voters sadly don't consider these characteristics. The clearest evidence for that is our current president.

[take10]

Did he forget that she has been intellectually challenged all of her adult life? Michael, she won't be ready in 2016 either! She may get rich if there are enough people interested in a story we already know. Wasting money on what is obviously an attempt to spin her lack of influence into something credible isn't a guarantee of any windfall!

[Statsboy196]

Looks like Michael Steele owes Rush Limbaugh another apology.

Here's my question: are we STILL not allowed to make fun of Palin? Is that still the most positive thing her right-wing supporters can say about her? That's still her strongest attribute as a politician? That we shouldn't make fun of her? Or rather, that we'll regret it once she's elected President? Not because she's basically George W. Bush with a y chromosome and without the old money, but that she will personally hunt down and shoot everyone who ever cracked a joke about her?

[Gronkie]

The Republicans only put Steele in his position because they needed a token black man to counter the election of Obama. Doesn't he realize they don't really want him to speak or have an opinion on anything?

[defendr]

So, why are we afraid of Sarah?

[Pennsylvanianne]

Not afraid of Sarah, just her hand on the nuclear button, as she believes in the end times and wants to blow us all to Kingdom Come. But this resignation is political suicide. She will never be president.

[Tulka2]

Oh, yeah, because the rabid right-wingers always listen to Michael Steele. That woman is channeling some kind of ancient, rampaging Viking queen. She doesn't play by the rules.

[godsense2]

And God bless her for it.

[cosmicbullfight]

God bless her straight to the obscurity she so deserves.

[NotGuilty]

Gawd don't bless thieves, liars and murderers. What preacher taught you that He does?

[Tulka2]

To "godsense2". Crack a book and you will find the Viking stock Palin actually springs from has gods, but they are not yours. They are gods of ambition and war.

[Human-Being]

Poor Sarah she claims she was burned at the stake, and yet she lives, next the rabid right will be calling her a Saint.

[freethinkergirl]

Micheal, here is your next ethics investigation: remember the house was built by Todd and a few buddies at the same time as the Sport's complex? (Even though most the product used was identical to the Complex, such as the windows that needed cranes for installation, not buddies.)

Here is Recorded document showing the lien on the Palins by the building company, which proved they built the Palin house. Likewise got lucrative contracts from Gov. Palin as well as Palin receiving donations from the contractor. Not to mention that right after this Palin stopped public recording of Building permits!!! What was she hiding????:

Type of Document: ALASKA NTC OF RIGHT TO LIEN
Palin, Todd
Date Recorded: 10/19/2001
Grantor
First Grantee : SPENARD BUILDERS SUPPLY

http://dnr.alaska.gov/ssd/recoff/sag/DocDisplay.cfm?SelectedDoc=20010228400&District=311

[troika]

Steele and Palin, what more could the democrats ask for. Two cucukoos one on the east coast and the other in the wilderness.

[Tom Joad]

In a related news, the wheel is off the bus...

[jimmyaj]

Is that the steering wheel?

I don't believe this machine has any wheels that touch the ground....

[duxguts]

There is no reason Sarah Palin shouldn't be President. We've had actors, peanut farmers, liars and womanizers. Why can't we have our first single cell President?

[danusgram]

Only in the foreign country you live in ...not in the USA period!

[BambooHarvester]

Nice shoe polish job !
~

[John Horner]

Steele is the one who is "off the table".