UPI.com: Palin fever fading for many in the GOP
ROCK HILL, S.C., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Republican activists may like Sarah Palin on the issues, but many don't want her as their presidential candidate.
At a recent fundraising dinner of the York County, S.C., Republican Party, party stalwarts told McClatchy Newspapers the former Alaska governor lacks the experience and knowledge to run successfully, let alone govern.
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who spoke at the event, appealed to many as "Sarah Palin with a brain," said Gail Moore of Columbia, S.C.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty have also appeared in South Carolina, which has a key early primary.
Palin's "major weakness is that she needs to bone up on how the government works," said Don Long of Lake Wylie. "I don't know if she's done as much of that as she needs to."
"She's not really creative," said Swain Shepperd of Rock Hill. "She just repeats what's already been said by others."
Palin's resignation as governor has also hurt her while Republicans rally around new state chief executives like Chris Christie of New Jersey, Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
22 FEb, 2011, Tues, Dueling authors of Sarah Palin books do battle
Los Angeles Times: Dueling authors of Sarah Palin books do battle
By James Oliphant
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- As Sarah Palin ponders whether to enter the 2012 GOP presidential wars, a skirmish over two competing chronicles of her time in Alaska has broken out.
A former aide to Palin, Frank Bailey, is working on a manuscript in which, according to press reports, Palin is portrayed as thin-skinned and obsessed with her political critics. On Tuesday, Bailey accused author Joe McGinniss, who has been working on his own Palin book, of leaking Bailey's manuscript to the media.
Posting on the anti-Palin blog Mudflats on Tuesday, Bailey, along with his co-authors, Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon, issued what they termed was a "cease-and-desist order" against McGinniss, which read, in part, that the three "believe [McGinniss'] actions were done with the single intent of destroying the marketability of the work. It is no secret that you are writing your own 'tell-all' book about Sarah Palin."
The post called McGinniss "a jealous author sabotaging a competitor via unlawful and unscrupulous means" and said his actions had "impaired" their ability to market the book.
McGinniss is the bestselling author of "Fatal Vision" who famously moved next door to the Palin family in Wasilla, Alaska. His book, "The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin," is due out Sept. 20, according to Amazon. Last year, he complained that Palin had marshaled an army of online critics of his effort, saying Palin had the power "to incite hatred."
The contents of the Bailey manuscript were first reported by the Anchorage Daily News, which said that McGinniss had provided the paper with a copy. The Daily News said that in the manuscript, which was reportedly compiled from e-mail messages sent by Palin, the former Alaska governor complained that she hated her job shortly before she resigned in 2009.
McGinniss' agent, Dave Larabell, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that McGinniss wasn't the only person in the publishing world to see the manuscript.
Palin has been openly grappling with the idea of running for president. Last week, at a speech in suburban New York, she acknowledged that her sinking national poll numbers meant she would have to spend more time engaging the public in person- - rather than relying on her appearances on cable and her use of social media -- if she were to launch a campaign.
"In a lot of those polls, yeah, I get my butt kicked," Palin said. "I look at those poll numbers and I say, 'If I'm going to do this, I obviously gotta get out there and let people know who I am, what I stand for and what my record is.' "
By James Oliphant
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- As Sarah Palin ponders whether to enter the 2012 GOP presidential wars, a skirmish over two competing chronicles of her time in Alaska has broken out.
A former aide to Palin, Frank Bailey, is working on a manuscript in which, according to press reports, Palin is portrayed as thin-skinned and obsessed with her political critics. On Tuesday, Bailey accused author Joe McGinniss, who has been working on his own Palin book, of leaking Bailey's manuscript to the media.
Posting on the anti-Palin blog Mudflats on Tuesday, Bailey, along with his co-authors, Ken Morris and Jeanne Devon, issued what they termed was a "cease-and-desist order" against McGinniss, which read, in part, that the three "believe [McGinniss'] actions were done with the single intent of destroying the marketability of the work. It is no secret that you are writing your own 'tell-all' book about Sarah Palin."
The post called McGinniss "a jealous author sabotaging a competitor via unlawful and unscrupulous means" and said his actions had "impaired" their ability to market the book.
McGinniss is the bestselling author of "Fatal Vision" who famously moved next door to the Palin family in Wasilla, Alaska. His book, "The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin," is due out Sept. 20, according to Amazon. Last year, he complained that Palin had marshaled an army of online critics of his effort, saying Palin had the power "to incite hatred."
The contents of the Bailey manuscript were first reported by the Anchorage Daily News, which said that McGinniss had provided the paper with a copy. The Daily News said that in the manuscript, which was reportedly compiled from e-mail messages sent by Palin, the former Alaska governor complained that she hated her job shortly before she resigned in 2009.
McGinniss' agent, Dave Larabell, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that McGinniss wasn't the only person in the publishing world to see the manuscript.
Palin has been openly grappling with the idea of running for president. Last week, at a speech in suburban New York, she acknowledged that her sinking national poll numbers meant she would have to spend more time engaging the public in person- - rather than relying on her appearances on cable and her use of social media -- if she were to launch a campaign.
"In a lot of those polls, yeah, I get my butt kicked," Palin said. "I look at those poll numbers and I say, 'If I'm going to do this, I obviously gotta get out there and let people know who I am, what I stand for and what my record is.' "
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Aide planning tell-all about time with Palin
Yahoo News: Aide planning tell-all about time with Palin
JUNEAU, Alaska – One of Sarah Palin's trusted advisers is planning a tell-all memoir, drawing upon thousands of personal e-mails during his time with the former Alaska governor to paint what his agent calls an expose of the inner workings of her operation.
Frank Bailey rose from a campaign volunteer to administration official and figure in the "Troopergate" scandal that fixated the public's attention during Palin's vice presidential bid in 2008. A preliminary draft of the unpublished book, tentatively called "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of our Tumultuous Years," was leaked to reporters, with excerpts making the rounds on the Internet.
Messages to a Palin aide and attorney weren't immediately returned Friday.
Ken Morris, a California-based writer who worked with Bailey on the manuscript, said in an e-mail that the material is preliminary, subject to copyright protections and not authorized for use.
The New York-based Carol Mann Agency, in an e-mail promoting the manuscript, said the "revelations and insights" that Bailey offers "are more necessary than ever, as the public will seek to learn as much as possible about the woman who seems to have her sights set on the national stage."
The agency referred calls to Morris, who said that he, Bailey and co-writer Jeanne Devon did "tons of research" for the book, which still has no publisher. Devon, an Alaska blogger, is a frequent critic of Palin.
Morris said he believes the manuscript paints an accurate portrait of Palin but declined to elaborate. "I think we should leave it at that," he said.
The manuscript, which Morris said is subject to change and "may not materially reflect the eventual product," states that Palin, before resigning partway through her first term, wrote to Bailey and another aide, "I hate this damn job."
This isn't Bailey's first attempt at getting published. He has been working on a book since at least 2009, when Palin resigned. At least one previous effort fizzled. Bailey left state government shortly after Palin.
Bailey was embroiled in an investigation of Palin's firing of her police commissioner over allegations he wouldn't fire a trooper who had a bitter divorce with Palin's sister. Bailey, in a recording made public, questioned a state trooper official about why Palin's former brother-in-law was still employed.
Once Palin's friend, Bailey is now among those criticizing her.
"Since leaving the Governor's office, Frank has been forced to reconsider his actions on Palin's behalf in terms of his deep Christian faith and his allegiance to her as the standard-bearer for the conservative causes he still champions," Mann wrote in her e-mail.
Mann also describes the manuscript as "the story of one man's slow drift from his most cherished beliefs and his ultimate redemption."
Efforts to reach Bailey weren't immediately successful.
JUNEAU, Alaska – One of Sarah Palin's trusted advisers is planning a tell-all memoir, drawing upon thousands of personal e-mails during his time with the former Alaska governor to paint what his agent calls an expose of the inner workings of her operation.
Frank Bailey rose from a campaign volunteer to administration official and figure in the "Troopergate" scandal that fixated the public's attention during Palin's vice presidential bid in 2008. A preliminary draft of the unpublished book, tentatively called "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin: A Memoir of our Tumultuous Years," was leaked to reporters, with excerpts making the rounds on the Internet.
Messages to a Palin aide and attorney weren't immediately returned Friday.
Ken Morris, a California-based writer who worked with Bailey on the manuscript, said in an e-mail that the material is preliminary, subject to copyright protections and not authorized for use.
The New York-based Carol Mann Agency, in an e-mail promoting the manuscript, said the "revelations and insights" that Bailey offers "are more necessary than ever, as the public will seek to learn as much as possible about the woman who seems to have her sights set on the national stage."
The agency referred calls to Morris, who said that he, Bailey and co-writer Jeanne Devon did "tons of research" for the book, which still has no publisher. Devon, an Alaska blogger, is a frequent critic of Palin.
Morris said he believes the manuscript paints an accurate portrait of Palin but declined to elaborate. "I think we should leave it at that," he said.
The manuscript, which Morris said is subject to change and "may not materially reflect the eventual product," states that Palin, before resigning partway through her first term, wrote to Bailey and another aide, "I hate this damn job."
This isn't Bailey's first attempt at getting published. He has been working on a book since at least 2009, when Palin resigned. At least one previous effort fizzled. Bailey left state government shortly after Palin.
Bailey was embroiled in an investigation of Palin's firing of her police commissioner over allegations he wouldn't fire a trooper who had a bitter divorce with Palin's sister. Bailey, in a recording made public, questioned a state trooper official about why Palin's former brother-in-law was still employed.
Once Palin's friend, Bailey is now among those criticizing her.
"Since leaving the Governor's office, Frank has been forced to reconsider his actions on Palin's behalf in terms of his deep Christian faith and his allegiance to her as the standard-bearer for the conservative causes he still champions," Mann wrote in her e-mail.
Mann also describes the manuscript as "the story of one man's slow drift from his most cherished beliefs and his ultimate redemption."
Efforts to reach Bailey weren't immediately successful.
Friday, February 18, 2011
18 Feb, 2011, Fri, YahooNews: Palin rejects new gun laws, vague on 2012 plans
All the Huffington Post had to say about Palin's appearance was to ask people if they liked her leopard skin shoes. Yahoo News has the actual news of what went down:
Palin rejects new gun laws, vague on 2012 plans
WOODBURY, N.Y. – Sarah Palin, in a rare public appearance at which reporters were allowed, praised lawmakers threatening to vote against raising the federal debt ceiling. She stuck to her guns on "death panels" Thursday and continued tweaking the first lady's efforts to fight childhood obesity, but she chided some of her own supporters for sustaining the "annoying" claims that President Barack Obama is foreign-born and Muslim.
As for the big question — whether she's running for president in 2012 — the former vice presidential Republican nominee said she's thinking about it.
"No one is more qualified, really, to multitasking and the things you need to do as president, than a woman, a mom," said the former Alaska governor, who has five children.
Palin sat for a wide-ranging interview with the president of the Long Island Association, a business group outside New York, at the group's annual meeting. Kevin Law pressed her on gun rights, potential presidential aspirations and how she usually communicates through Facebook and Fox News, where she is a contributor, rather than talking to reporters.
Reporters were allowed at the New York event, unlike many Palin speaking engagements where they have been banned, but they did not get a chance to ask questions.
Law asked Palin if she would support efforts to restrict semiautomatic weapons or multi-bullet clips, like the clips used in a shooting last month in Tucson, Ariz., that left six people dead and U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded.
"There are already on the books many gun control measures, and I do support those that are on the books. I do not support taking away more freedom from the good guy," Palin said. "The people who have no intention of using that weapon to harm another person so, no additional gun control measures could be supported."
Palin was criticized after the shootings for having published campaign literature that marked some Democratic districts, including Giffords', with crosshairs, but she pushed back, saying Republicans were being unfairly blamed for the act of a crazed shooter.
She said Thursday, "Prayers should continue for the full recovery of Gabby Giffords and others who were involved in such a tragic, tragic event."
Palin criticized Obama on a range of issues, from his handling of the recent democratic uprising in Egypt to his latest budget proposal, which she said would do little to close the deficit. She claimed the press had been complicit in allowing Obama to claim that his budget did not add to the national debt. The White House expects government spending and revenues to eventually reach balance, but that doesn't include interest payments on the debt.
"Criticism of the press is what I do," Palin said.
Whether she runs for president or not, Palin predicted an unconventional Republican contest in which social media would play a pivotal role.
"That's what going rogue is all about," Palin said, referring to the title of her best-selling memoir.
She also praised the tea party movement, saying it had forced Republicans and Democrats to "rethink the way they do business." She said she supported tea party-supported lawmakers' push for entitlement reform and their threats to vote against increasing the debt ceiling.
Palin did, however, distance herself from the so-called birthers, who believe Obama was not born in the United States, and others who contend he is not Christian, as he insists, but Muslim. She said she does not question the president's faith or citizenship and added, "It's distracting. It gets annoying. Let's stick with what really matters."
Palin said the landmark health care bill Obama signed into law last year gave her heartburn. She also defended her much-criticized claim that the law would lead to federal "death panels" determining who would receive care. Provisions of the law that were dropped called for voluntary end-of-life planning.
"My question was, 'Who are these faceless bureaucrats on a panel who will decide?'" Palin said. "Will it be my baby with Down syndrome, who maybe somebody may judge him as not having that level of productivity somebody else may have? So maybe if rationed care is part of this, maybe he wouldn't receive the care."
Palin also noted the recent increases in the price of food and mocked Michelle Obama to make her point. The first lady is encouraging mothers to breast-feed their infants as part of her campaign to reduce childhood obesity — an effort that has drawn scorn from some conservatives.
"No wonder Michelle Obama is telling everybody you better breast-feed your babies," said Palin, who as governor declared October 2007 Breastfeeding Awareness Month. "I'm looking and say, 'Yeah, you better because the price of milk is so high right now.'"
Palin rejects new gun laws, vague on 2012 plans
WOODBURY, N.Y. – Sarah Palin, in a rare public appearance at which reporters were allowed, praised lawmakers threatening to vote against raising the federal debt ceiling. She stuck to her guns on "death panels" Thursday and continued tweaking the first lady's efforts to fight childhood obesity, but she chided some of her own supporters for sustaining the "annoying" claims that President Barack Obama is foreign-born and Muslim.
As for the big question — whether she's running for president in 2012 — the former vice presidential Republican nominee said she's thinking about it.
"No one is more qualified, really, to multitasking and the things you need to do as president, than a woman, a mom," said the former Alaska governor, who has five children.
Palin sat for a wide-ranging interview with the president of the Long Island Association, a business group outside New York, at the group's annual meeting. Kevin Law pressed her on gun rights, potential presidential aspirations and how she usually communicates through Facebook and Fox News, where she is a contributor, rather than talking to reporters.
Reporters were allowed at the New York event, unlike many Palin speaking engagements where they have been banned, but they did not get a chance to ask questions.
Law asked Palin if she would support efforts to restrict semiautomatic weapons or multi-bullet clips, like the clips used in a shooting last month in Tucson, Ariz., that left six people dead and U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords critically wounded.
"There are already on the books many gun control measures, and I do support those that are on the books. I do not support taking away more freedom from the good guy," Palin said. "The people who have no intention of using that weapon to harm another person so, no additional gun control measures could be supported."
Palin was criticized after the shootings for having published campaign literature that marked some Democratic districts, including Giffords', with crosshairs, but she pushed back, saying Republicans were being unfairly blamed for the act of a crazed shooter.
She said Thursday, "Prayers should continue for the full recovery of Gabby Giffords and others who were involved in such a tragic, tragic event."
Palin criticized Obama on a range of issues, from his handling of the recent democratic uprising in Egypt to his latest budget proposal, which she said would do little to close the deficit. She claimed the press had been complicit in allowing Obama to claim that his budget did not add to the national debt. The White House expects government spending and revenues to eventually reach balance, but that doesn't include interest payments on the debt.
"Criticism of the press is what I do," Palin said.
Whether she runs for president or not, Palin predicted an unconventional Republican contest in which social media would play a pivotal role.
"That's what going rogue is all about," Palin said, referring to the title of her best-selling memoir.
She also praised the tea party movement, saying it had forced Republicans and Democrats to "rethink the way they do business." She said she supported tea party-supported lawmakers' push for entitlement reform and their threats to vote against increasing the debt ceiling.
Palin did, however, distance herself from the so-called birthers, who believe Obama was not born in the United States, and others who contend he is not Christian, as he insists, but Muslim. She said she does not question the president's faith or citizenship and added, "It's distracting. It gets annoying. Let's stick with what really matters."
Palin said the landmark health care bill Obama signed into law last year gave her heartburn. She also defended her much-criticized claim that the law would lead to federal "death panels" determining who would receive care. Provisions of the law that were dropped called for voluntary end-of-life planning.
"My question was, 'Who are these faceless bureaucrats on a panel who will decide?'" Palin said. "Will it be my baby with Down syndrome, who maybe somebody may judge him as not having that level of productivity somebody else may have? So maybe if rationed care is part of this, maybe he wouldn't receive the care."
Palin also noted the recent increases in the price of food and mocked Michelle Obama to make her point. The first lady is encouraging mothers to breast-feed their infants as part of her campaign to reduce childhood obesity — an effort that has drawn scorn from some conservatives.
"No wonder Michelle Obama is telling everybody you better breast-feed your babies," said Palin, who as governor declared October 2007 Breastfeeding Awareness Month. "I'm looking and say, 'Yeah, you better because the price of milk is so high right now.'"
18 Jan, 2011, CNN Politics: Coulter 'insanely jealous' of Sarah Palin
The CNN Politics Political Ticker headline is misleading, it says "Coulter 'insanely jealous' of Sarah Palin."
But of course if you read the article, Coulter is actually praising Palin to the skies.
Washington (CNN) - Conservative columnist Ann Coulter has made some enemies in her years as a right-wing firebrand, but she's still jealous of Sarah Palin's ability to agitate the left.
"I especially love her for her enemies, I'm insanely jealous of that," Coulter said last night on MSNBC. "I love her for how she makes liberal heads explode."
Coulter said she thought Palin could win the Republican presidential nomination, but that the former Alaska governor shouldn't bother running.
"I think it would be a step down for her to run for president," Coulter said. "It's like saying Rush Limbaugh should run for president. She's huge. She has enormous power. She sends out a Twitter on death panels and everyone's talking about it. I think it would be crazy for her to run for president."
Coulter did throw her support behind one potential candidate – New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
"Christie is very articulate," Coulter said. "He has taken brave positions that no other Republican was willing to take, taking on the teachers' union. Amazingly, every once and a while a politician comes along and tells the truth, and he's one of them."
Earlier this week, Christie told an audience in Washington, D.C., that he had no intention to run for the nomination. Coulter said if Christie were to stay out of the race, she may support Mitt Romney.
"He may well be the best candidate if it's not my love Christie."
But of course if you read the article, Coulter is actually praising Palin to the skies.
Washington (CNN) - Conservative columnist Ann Coulter has made some enemies in her years as a right-wing firebrand, but she's still jealous of Sarah Palin's ability to agitate the left.
"I especially love her for her enemies, I'm insanely jealous of that," Coulter said last night on MSNBC. "I love her for how she makes liberal heads explode."
Coulter said she thought Palin could win the Republican presidential nomination, but that the former Alaska governor shouldn't bother running.
"I think it would be a step down for her to run for president," Coulter said. "It's like saying Rush Limbaugh should run for president. She's huge. She has enormous power. She sends out a Twitter on death panels and everyone's talking about it. I think it would be crazy for her to run for president."
Coulter did throw her support behind one potential candidate – New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
"Christie is very articulate," Coulter said. "He has taken brave positions that no other Republican was willing to take, taking on the teachers' union. Amazingly, every once and a while a politician comes along and tells the truth, and he's one of them."
Earlier this week, Christie told an audience in Washington, D.C., that he had no intention to run for the nomination. Coulter said if Christie were to stay out of the race, she may support Mitt Romney.
"He may well be the best candidate if it's not my love Christie."
18 Feb, 2011, HuffPost: Sarah Palin's Leopard-Print Heels: Hit Or Miss? (PHOTOS, POLL)
The Huffington Post continues to spend more time on gossip than news.
If you want to take the poll, go to the link below!:
Sarah Palin's Leopard-Print Heels: Hit Or Miss? (PHOTOS, POLL)
We wouldn't have pegged Business Insider to be a fashion-savvy bunch but, boy, did they nab a style hot shot on Thursday. Sarah Palin stopped by the Long Island Association's annual meeting in New York wearing an unassuming black suit paired with a bejeweled American flag bracelet and -- the kicker, quite literally -- leopard print, strappy, high heels.
Take a look and tell us what you think.
Quick Poll
--Sarah Palin's shoes: HIT! She pulls them off with aplomb.
--MISS! Inappropriate footwear for the occasion.
If you want to take the poll, go to the link below!:
Sarah Palin's Leopard-Print Heels: Hit Or Miss? (PHOTOS, POLL)
We wouldn't have pegged Business Insider to be a fashion-savvy bunch but, boy, did they nab a style hot shot on Thursday. Sarah Palin stopped by the Long Island Association's annual meeting in New York wearing an unassuming black suit paired with a bejeweled American flag bracelet and -- the kicker, quite literally -- leopard print, strappy, high heels.
Take a look and tell us what you think.
Quick Poll
--Sarah Palin's shoes: HIT! She pulls them off with aplomb.
--MISS! Inappropriate footwear for the occasion.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
15 Jan, 2011: Tues: Wash Post: Attacking Palin: Who's doing it and why
Attacking Palin: Who's doing it and why
By Chris Cillizza
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
After months of radio silence about the prospect of Sarah Palin running for president in 2012, a few of her potential rivals have begun to delicately jab at her, previewing what would almost certainly be a far more aggressive attack if she did decide to enter the race.
Last week, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum started a controversy by postulating in an online radio interview that Palin might be skipping the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) because "she has some demands on her time, and a lot of them have financial benefit attached to them." He added that Palin also has considerable responsibilities as a mother of five children.
While Santorum insisted that he was only saying Palin was busy and did not in any way mean to slight her, the former Alaska governor clearly took umbrage.
Palin said she would not call Santorum the "knuckle-dragging Neanderthal", adding "I'll let his wife call him that instead." Zing!
Then came South Dakota Sen. John Thune's speech at CPAC in which he uttered the line: "The closest I've come to being on a reality TV show is C-SPAN's live coverage of the Senate floor."
While he never mentioned Palin's name, the audience "oohed" as soon as Thune mentioned a reality TV show -- a clear indication that they knew exactly who and what he was talking about.
For both Santorum and Thune, going after Palin -- whether intentionally, unintentionally or a somewhere in between -- is a smart political strategy.
It's the political equivalent of punching up; anytime a lesser known candidate takes a swing at a better known candidate -- and that better known candidate responds -- it's a victory for the little guy.
It's why long-shot challengers always call for debate against incumbents -- and why incumbents almost never agree to them.
But, Palin's demonstrated willingness to engage almost anyone -- literally -- who speaks ill of her virtually ensures that other lesser known candidates looking to make a name for themselves in the 2012 field will follow the Santorum/Thune route in the very near future.
It's a win-win situation for second and third tier candidates. Anything Palin-related draws a scrum of reporters (although, notably, not Dana Milbank) and those reporters inevitably write stories with a "Santorum vs Palin" or "Thune vs Palin" narrative -- a great dynamic for longer-shot candidates.
The real question moving forward is whether -- and how -- bigger name candidates like former Govs. Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) follow the lead of Santorum and Thune.
To date, each of those candidates have tread very carefully around Palin.
Romney recently praised her as "an extraordinarily powerful and effective voice in our party".
Gingrich called her a "formidable person in her own right" although cautioning Palin to "slow down" when it comes to her public pronouncements.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Palin was "a heck of a lot smarter than she gets credit for."
The closest any of the major candidates has come to going negative on Palin is when Pawlenty said on "Good Morning America" that "it wouldn't have been my style" to put crosshairs on a 2010 election map as Palin's Sarah PAC did. (Some Democrats blamed Palin's "crosshairs map" for playing a role in the attempted assassination of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.) But, that's a pretty tame line of attack -- if it can even be considered a line of attack at all.
So, why haven't we seen more criticism of Palin from her bigger-name rivals?
One reason may be that they have made a calculation that it makes little sense to go after Palin -- and risk alienating her loyal supporters -- before she is even in the race.
The nightmare scenario for top-tier candidates is that they attack Palin, the attack turns her voters against them and then she doesn't run. The result? They look petty and have angered an element of the party they will need to win the nomination.
Rather than risk it, the top-tier candidates appear to be playing as nice as possible with Palin for as long as possible.
Of course, if she gets in the race, that calculation could well change. While people like Romney, Barbour and Daniels would likely be content to let people like Santorum go on a political kamikaze mission against Palin, it's hard to imagine that all of them could avoid engaging with her during the primary process.
Another reason for the lack of direct engagement at the moment could be that Palin is not regarded by some of these people as a major threat for the nomination even if she did run.
As Politico's Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin noted in a smart story Monday, Palin is not performing as a frontrunner would be expected to in early primary and caucus states -- suggesting she may not be nearly as formidable as she is made out to be.
Regardless of whether or not she runs, however, Palin will have an influence on the nomination fight by dint of her fame and the subsequent throw weight of her pronouncements via Facebook and Twitter.
Most of the top-tier candidates are eyeing her warily at the moment, waiting to see what she's up to before deciding the best way to approach her.
In the meantime, look for lesser known candidates to try and make their name by going at Palin. Will she engage them? Or ignore them?
By Chris Cillizza
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
After months of radio silence about the prospect of Sarah Palin running for president in 2012, a few of her potential rivals have begun to delicately jab at her, previewing what would almost certainly be a far more aggressive attack if she did decide to enter the race.
Last week, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum started a controversy by postulating in an online radio interview that Palin might be skipping the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) because "she has some demands on her time, and a lot of them have financial benefit attached to them." He added that Palin also has considerable responsibilities as a mother of five children.
While Santorum insisted that he was only saying Palin was busy and did not in any way mean to slight her, the former Alaska governor clearly took umbrage.
Palin said she would not call Santorum the "knuckle-dragging Neanderthal", adding "I'll let his wife call him that instead." Zing!
Then came South Dakota Sen. John Thune's speech at CPAC in which he uttered the line: "The closest I've come to being on a reality TV show is C-SPAN's live coverage of the Senate floor."
While he never mentioned Palin's name, the audience "oohed" as soon as Thune mentioned a reality TV show -- a clear indication that they knew exactly who and what he was talking about.
For both Santorum and Thune, going after Palin -- whether intentionally, unintentionally or a somewhere in between -- is a smart political strategy.
It's the political equivalent of punching up; anytime a lesser known candidate takes a swing at a better known candidate -- and that better known candidate responds -- it's a victory for the little guy.
It's why long-shot challengers always call for debate against incumbents -- and why incumbents almost never agree to them.
But, Palin's demonstrated willingness to engage almost anyone -- literally -- who speaks ill of her virtually ensures that other lesser known candidates looking to make a name for themselves in the 2012 field will follow the Santorum/Thune route in the very near future.
It's a win-win situation for second and third tier candidates. Anything Palin-related draws a scrum of reporters (although, notably, not Dana Milbank) and those reporters inevitably write stories with a "Santorum vs Palin" or "Thune vs Palin" narrative -- a great dynamic for longer-shot candidates.
The real question moving forward is whether -- and how -- bigger name candidates like former Govs. Mitt Romney (Mass.) and Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) follow the lead of Santorum and Thune.
To date, each of those candidates have tread very carefully around Palin.
Romney recently praised her as "an extraordinarily powerful and effective voice in our party".
Gingrich called her a "formidable person in her own right" although cautioning Palin to "slow down" when it comes to her public pronouncements.
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said Palin was "a heck of a lot smarter than she gets credit for."
The closest any of the major candidates has come to going negative on Palin is when Pawlenty said on "Good Morning America" that "it wouldn't have been my style" to put crosshairs on a 2010 election map as Palin's Sarah PAC did. (Some Democrats blamed Palin's "crosshairs map" for playing a role in the attempted assassination of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.) But, that's a pretty tame line of attack -- if it can even be considered a line of attack at all.
So, why haven't we seen more criticism of Palin from her bigger-name rivals?
One reason may be that they have made a calculation that it makes little sense to go after Palin -- and risk alienating her loyal supporters -- before she is even in the race.
The nightmare scenario for top-tier candidates is that they attack Palin, the attack turns her voters against them and then she doesn't run. The result? They look petty and have angered an element of the party they will need to win the nomination.
Rather than risk it, the top-tier candidates appear to be playing as nice as possible with Palin for as long as possible.
Of course, if she gets in the race, that calculation could well change. While people like Romney, Barbour and Daniels would likely be content to let people like Santorum go on a political kamikaze mission against Palin, it's hard to imagine that all of them could avoid engaging with her during the primary process.
Another reason for the lack of direct engagement at the moment could be that Palin is not regarded by some of these people as a major threat for the nomination even if she did run.
As Politico's Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin noted in a smart story Monday, Palin is not performing as a frontrunner would be expected to in early primary and caucus states -- suggesting she may not be nearly as formidable as she is made out to be.
Regardless of whether or not she runs, however, Palin will have an influence on the nomination fight by dint of her fame and the subsequent throw weight of her pronouncements via Facebook and Twitter.
Most of the top-tier candidates are eyeing her warily at the moment, waiting to see what she's up to before deciding the best way to approach her.
In the meantime, look for lesser known candidates to try and make their name by going at Palin. Will she engage them? Or ignore them?
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