Sarah Palin: She's Gotta Have It

After three decades of experience as a Hollywood "PR guy," one thing about up-and-coming celebrities has been a consistent theme for me -- some newcomers to the public eye become addicted to publicity and fame.

It's a real addiction; they just don't feel complete without a daily dose of media attention. If you don't believe it, see what happens to virtually any reality star after they are 'kicked off the island.'

Sarah Palin is one of these unfortunate people. She is not going to be fulfilled going back to the frozen obscurity of Alaska now that's she's had a taste of the "Big Time." Fortunately, they have a support group for people like her -- its called The U.S. Senate.

Conveniently, it looks like convicted felon and Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is going to be reelected. the newly beefed-up Democratic majority in the Senate is going to take a certain glee in kicking him out as one of their first official acts.

What happens next? Why, (feigned surprise) the Alaskan Governor herself gets to appoint a replacement. There's nothing stopping Ms. Palin from appointing the reflection in her mirror. True, she would have to run in 90 days, but as the, "most popular governor in America," that should be a snowmobile ride on a sunny day.

For an ambitious woman with a bright political future Washington D. C. is truly the other "Magic Kingdom." She needs a cadre of advisors; direct marketers; PR people; advertisers; ghost writers; and countless others that will take "Brand Palin" to the next level. There are buildings full of Republicans in exile looking for their next gig. They are being downsized and she may be their lifeboat.

One newscaster made the point that, "only 40% of people surveyed wanted Palin to run for U.S. President in the future." Only 40%? Hell -- McCain only got 47%. They have a name for that 40% -- it's called a "base."

A few things are clear to me and anyone who has turned on a television in the last 10 weeks: the red-meat Republican base adores her and this base gets to decide who runs; she has "star quality"; there's nothing that's so ruined about her image that can't be fixed with time and intensive education; she will be a very formidable presidential candidate in either 2012 or 2016.

This is not to say that I agree with her. We differ on almost every issue and it was clear to me from day one that she wasn't ready to serve and wouldn't help the ticket.

Yet she has a bright political future. She has the ability to tell a story that motivates. She fills arenas and generates enthusiasm. And with the Republican Party's problems with the female vote, she could be the answer to many of their problems.

Sarah Palin is not going quietly into the Aurora Borealis. This moose-hunting Momma and political gunslinger will be back. Anyone who underestimates her appeal and unbridled ambition has not seen the bodies left behind in her home turf of frozen tundra.

Comments

[QuietLightTraveler]

I think our government should withdraw Alaska's statehood status and instead make it a national park without any representation in government and administered by a new section of the National Park Service.

[zstone]

As it's been stated, the premise of this article is wrong. Also, she has said she doesn't want to run for the seat. I hope it is edited to reflect this or HuffPost takes the article down.

[JayInDallas]

Can we hear the death rattle on this subject already? What's going to happen in 4 years? She'll suddenly get smart? Let's move on already.

[twofish]

Time to start a recall movement. It worked in California, we threw out a Democrat, and unfortunately, got Schwartzenegger. But you'll have to call in the U.N. to oversee the election, something smells up there in Alaska, and it isn't a rotting mammoth in the melting permafrost.

[TRYKER]

Its my impression that any ongoing news of Ms Palin's ventures will be the investigations looking into her many questionable acts and decisions.
We'll be hearing about what her atty said and what the prosecutors have found out...and we'll watch the trial of Sarah on Court TV (TruTV--gads name changes) and we'll watch her tears and her family pleading to the judge that she be given probation so she can be a "stay at home mom".
If her $500 K house starts to look like a "favor" from the contractor who got the Sports Arena contract, she'll be a felon like her mentor Uncle Ted.
When the taxes on oil at $60 go into the fund "for the people" and don't come out the other end at $1200 but at much less, perhaps the loyal Sarah-suckers will think twice about keeping her in any office.
She'll be a TV star all right, like OJ was. She won't be running in the lower 48 in 2012, her magic was only illusion.

[Hoosierbrad]

The only problem with this article is that the Governor of Alaska does not have the power to appoint the replacement; there must be a special election.

This power was removed by the legislature after a certain Governor of the State appointed his daughter to the U.S. Senate.

[AndrewInToronto]

That gave me a chuckle. Is this idea akin to her attempted ploy to have the Joint Council investigation changed to the personnel committee, the members of which she herself appoints? 'I don't mind criticism, as long as it comes from my own lips, if voice through others.' It may be worth noting that in the final report, of those who did not give testimony I believe it was 10 or 11 (almost all) who were within her staff -- from her chief of staff to her executive secretary.

[fiberoptimist]

Her ignorance is only matched by her unbridled ambition. A dangerous combination.

[AMonkey]

Amen.

[Ramseytwo]

She could always appoint Tina Fey...

[steadystate]

By any rational measure, Sarah Palin should never have a chance of being the republican candidate for president. But it would be unwise to think that republicans would be above choosing someone like her. Especially the cousin-marrying, gun-toting, paranoid "base" of the party, which seems to have a disturbingly strong voice.

[diablorobotico]

And Karl Rove is a genius and there will be a permanent Republican majority.

Sorry, not buying this, either. Britney will be a serious Presidential contender before Palin is.

One thing Bragman doesn't bring into the equation is how much Palin is hated by other Republicans -- Republicans who are just as ambitious and ruthless as she is, only they're actually bright, connected, and ready.

Palin will indeed be back in the race for the White House. For all of perhaps two weeks before she's dispatched back to Nowhere yet again. Republicans who have been working a lot longer at this than Palin will make the post-election McCain campaign parting shots look like love taps.

[Kassandra]

Something tells me Palin wouldn' t be very welcome in there with the republican folks. Teh grapvine sez it's Mitt romney taking her down so he has a clear shot at Pres in 2012

[mlaiuppa]

Actually, she doesn't. By Alaskan law (recent) they have to have a special election. Which is not to say Palin won't run.

[LouisvilleLiberal]

I encourage Republicans to fixate on Sarah as their best hope for victory in 2012. She will never live down her complete lack of knowledge and far right nastiness and I suspect that a few more years in the spotlight will not make her look any more presidential.

[kymlosang]

absolutley perfectly put! well said and spot on!

[emcd]

I tend to agree with you that she will give serious thought to how she can take Stevens' seat. However the visibility of a freshman senator is somewhat limited. They are supposed to be seen and not heard in committee hearings and elsewhere. Even Obama was not high visibility in the Senate, and not even when he first announced his candidacy.

No, I think that media attention would not be nearly frequent enough for "our" Sarah. Better to get a daily media gig, say on Fox. NOW THERE she would get immediate and daily attention, say in the time slot directly after OReilly?

She wouldn't even have to reveal her lack of knowledge. After all we have already seen her ability to read lines written for her. And since Fox "journalists" never have to ask tought adlib follow up questions, that wouldn't be an issue either!