Steffen Schmidt, IAFC Blogger
Steffen W. Schmidt, University Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at Iowa State University, WNYC blogger, and chief Political correspondent of Insider Iowa.
Opinion: How We Know Sarah Palin is Running for President
Thursday, May 26, 2011 - 12:22 PM
Former Alaska governor and Republican vice president candidate Sarah Palin speaks at the Long Island Association's annual meeting February 17, 2011 in Woodbury, New York.
(Mario Tama/Getty)
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I saw a blurb about Sarah Palin on the Townhall Magazine web site, you know the one that has a HUGE, heroic picture of Palin on the cover and also a banner that reads “Gangster Gov’t: Obama and his Union Buddies.”
Well the teaser reads, “…Despite being constantly in the media’s crosshairs, Palin has managed to keep any thoughts of a 2012 run for the White House under wraps, which ironically has fueled the Palin rumor mill even more. Read all about Sarah's possible run in the May 2011 issue of Townhall Magazine!”
That set off my alarm because I saw a story hours ago that read, “Apple stores are running a mysterious late-night shift on Saturday. What are they up to?” - the typical, cryptic way that new product is launched.
Regarding Sarah Palin, I’m pretty certain that she’s planning a run for president. I predicted that Donald Trump was going to run and I was right. But you skeptics forgot to look at the disclaimer where I clearly and in 10-point-type said, “but not for long.” You gotta look at the fine print.
Nowadays the thing about running for president is that it can be a great career-booster for other stuff you are doing.
Say you have a reality TV show with flagging ratings. You run for president, say a lot of provocative things like “I think Obama was born in Belarus!” and “I am sending my team of investigators to Minsk to get to the bottom of this!” Then you declare that the U.S. should annex Israel and make it the 51st state because “ … we bought them fair and square with taxpayer money” and you declare a trade war with Italy by banning all pasta from American soil. Now you’ve really got media attention and you may end up with half a billion in free media. Then you say, ”I’m too busy spending time with my three ex spouses so I decided on Sunday I’m not running.”
It can’t hurt.
So I know Sarah Palin is running fro President because she has bought a 1.7 million, 8,000-square-foot, walled-and-gated house that “sits on 4.4 acres” and has a home theater, a billiard room, a walk-in wine room and a "resort style backyard" with a gazebo and pool, in North Scottsdale, Arizona. Obviously, anyone who’d buy such a home in that very location, Scottsdale, is automatically suspect of running for President of the most powerful country on Earth (no not China, the USA).
The other reason I am dead certain Palin is in for Election 2012 is because RealClearPolitics.com reported in an exclusive, that there is a full length, million dollar movie about her, made with her full cooperation, by conservative filmmaker, former naval officer and ex-Goldman Sachs banker Stephen K. Bannon. We hear that the movie, "The Undefeated" (I doubt if it’s a “film”), “ … focuses on Palin's triumphs on fiscal and energy matters.” Oh really? I guess I was napping when that news broke on the wire services.
Palin was not interviewed for this movie but in a great example or repackaging and multiple-tiered marketing narration is used from the audiobook of her 2009 bestseller, "Going Rogue." I know you’d forgotten it was a bestseller but that’s why I’m here for you.
Josh Grossberg of Today Movies, whatever that is, “Will Palin film set stage for presidential run?”
The answer, let me repeat, is “yes.”
I heard from a friend of a cousin of mine who used to work for a print shop that an order for “Palin 2012” bumper stickers came in the other day. It’s all hush hush and I can’t reveal more because I am a man of integrity. On the other hand my cousin has ADHD and he was not sure if it was 2012 or 2008 and he can’t remember for sure if it was last week or four years ago when he went on Ritalin.
But as for me, I’m sure she’s running because she can always drop out after her contract with Fox is renewed. As Donald Trump probably has said “You’d be a #@!%^&*! fool not to.”
Comments [4]
"Palin only came to national attention because she was McCain's pick for vice president."
Stop the presses!
And when do you think the initials LBJ became a nationally known acronym? Or Harry Truman?
How about Al Gore? John Edwards? Dick Cheney?
None of these politicians were household names until they were put on a national ticket.
It's astonishing that you describe a chief executive as "diginified" when he gave
the Prime Minister of the U.K. 25 DVD's.
From the Guardian that is a markedlypro-Obama tabloid:
"In return for a pen holder carved from the timbers of the sister ship of the one the White House desk is made from and a first edition of a seven-volume biography of Winston Churchill, the Mail is appalled that "Barack Obama, the leader of the world's richest country" gave Brown a box set of 25 DVDs selected by the American Film Institute."
Apparently learning nothing from the diplomatic gaff, Obama then followedthat act of "dignified" statesmanship with the gift of an IPOD to the Queen.
"The queen gave the Obamas a collection of correspondence between various presidents and Queen Victoria, including one in response to the death of Abraham Lincoln. The first lady was also given an antique broach," the L.A. Times noted.
I suppose we all have our priorities. Personally, I'd prefer a relative commoner
of modest bearing who at least knows that
telling Israel where or what they can build in their own country is a prescription for diplomatic disaster.
I also want my president to get that national defense--as in having the world's most advanced military--trumps, health care, entitlement programs, AND the job rate.
America could have a $10,000,000,000,000 surplus and a 2.0% unemployment rate. That won't matter a damn if we have to take on China which is is allocating 12.7% of it's GNP to defense spending while the U.S. under this administration is reducing the defense budget.
There are probably 1,000,000 men and women in this country that could look the part of a president but it takes more than "faking it until you make it."
Obama's regal (in your mind) bearing has born some bitter fruit: we as a country are less well thought of in the mideast; Israel doesnot trust Obama, nor does Pakistan and India. Germany's love affair with Barak Obama is on the rocks and the U.K.--they now believe the U.S. under obama doesnot consider one of western civilization's greatest alliances--that between the U.K. and the U.S. is a matter of preeminent importance to Obama.
And judging by the Queen's ipod, they may be on to something.
@Gary -
Heck of a Freudian slip there, buddy.
'unfaltering' means not wavering or weakening and is often used to describe fidelity. Unflattering photos of Ms. Palin abound. The trademark scary rouge below her cheekbones reminds me of Zacherly.
SS: "I predicted that Donald Trump was going to run and I was right".
No, that was wrong, also. Trump was only doing what Trump does -- promoting Trump. He was never a serious contender.
Palin is not running. She does not have a chance. She has only a little more executive experience than Obama had before he got the job, but has nowhere near his natural, dignified presidential manner. The entertainment industry will never support her the way it has always supported Obama.
Palin only came to national attention because she was McCain's pick for vice president. (Exactly the type of fast-twitch, gut-feel decision that makes for a great fighter pilot but a poor international leader).
Palin will most likely remain a cheer leader for the right-of-center Republicans. She will bring some votes to whoever she decides to endorse. That's it for her.
SS: I'll bet you a pint of Guiness that the above is so.
Congratulations, WNYC! You "finally" found an unfaltering photo of future President Palin. I'm sure your coverage of her campaign (and presidency) will be equally unflattering.
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