Sarah Palin's Irrelevant Summer Vacation
Sarah Palin mayor may not be running for president. She could turn the GOP race on its head, but probably could never win.
Sarah Palin's Irrelevant Summer Vacation
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
Sarah Palin has proved masterful at jerking around the “lamestream media” with her bizarre bus tour of the Northeast. (Now she’s reportedly on her way to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell.)
What’s she about? Running for president? It might not matter.
Palin has said that the PAC-financed One Nation bus trip is just a family vacation to historical sites, not that anyone really believes that. The trip was launched with a slick, campaign-commercial style video and breathless blog posts on her web site stating that its mission was nothing less than the “restoration” of America to its fundamental values as expressed in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
In the bifurcated way of nearly everything Palin has done since bursting on the scene as the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, the trip is framed as either the Evita-style ego trip of a politician struggling to re-establish her relevance, or a genuine and unconventional way to explore a presidential campaign that the media and political elite simply cannot understand.
At any rate, it is confusing to follow. Palin’s staff has ignored media questions or else suggested reporters consult the SarahPAC website, which does not list the stops until after they are over. Buttons for donations are prominent on the site, however.
Palin would no doubt upend the Republican race if she were to get in – she has a core of devoted followers and is popular among Christian conservatives – but some recent polls suggest the former Alaska governor would have a hard time winning the nomination, and almost no chance of winning a general election against President Obama.
In late April, for instance, Gallup asked Republican voters which potential candidate they would definitely not vote for – Palin was named by 37 percent, by far the most toxic name on the list. Sixty-five percent of registered voters overall (including Democrats and independents) said they would never vote for her.
Rumor has it that the Reading Terminal Market has sold out of eggs and tomatoes.— Montco PA Dem- WHO CARES!!!!!!
lol- If a tree doesn't fall in the forest, but is written about endlessly, is it still irrelevant?— Edward Creed
Comment removed.- Go home to Alaska and look at Russia from your house !— Joe R.
- 94Bravo, I have no idea what you've read or heard that makes you think anyone is frightened or even mildly annoyed by this political footnote, but "bemused" is probably a lot closer to the mark. What agenda is she setting? Louis Vuitton?— 1980
- 94, are you able to process the part where 2/3 of all likely voters - including more than 1/3 of likely GOP voters - said that tghey would not vote for Palin under any circumstances?— 1980
- @94Bravo... are libs terrified of Palin? No, not really. Do libs despise her? Yes, I suppose so. Do they get comic relief from the fact that she is even remotely thinking about running?? YES ! That's the only attention she gets from the left, a mix of comedy and empathy, that you mistake for "getting under your skin"...look into your tea leaves again, I'm sure you'll eventually have an "aha!" moment soon— recoveryroad
- Sarah Palin brings much needed hunor to the campaign trail. Where else but America can a woman with an IQ this low get so much attention.
Maybe if we elect her she will be the first President to quit just like she quit as governor in Alaska. She can quit to become the first gallactic leader of the universe, just picture it, Sarah Palin as sith lord with her apprentice Newt Gingrich.
Now thats entertainment!— jimd98 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSdFIDygFwM&feature=youtu.be — Janie Got A Gun
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- Well, if you're following this GOP field then I'm sure you're smelling something, but it's not fear from Democrats. Their dream GOP ticket is any combination of Palin, Bachman, Santorum and Gingrich.— 1980
- 94Bravo, don't rewrite history. I've seen Palin talk about Putin sending crafts to violate US airspace. And where is the first place they fly? Alaska! Of course. She is a moron. Really. I would debate her on foreign policy with my current knowledge base, which I am sure is not that impressive in most political circles.— MichaelZoe
- 94Bravo I hope you really don't believe that Mrs. Palin is a serious candidate for President of the United States. Don't we have enough issues. C'Mon Man!— Worker1
- Yo 94Bravo. Do you realize just how delusional you sound? Do you truly think you're aiding her cause, whatever that is, (other than stealing money from sycophants like yourself), with this nonsense? No one has been more thoroughly vetted thn President Obama yet he still beats Palin soundly in each and every poll. Even, the right leaning ones. And please stop with this ridiculous dribble about how "down to earth" this phony is. I don't know too many down to earth types who jaunt around the country in private jets running up thousands of dollars in expenses for herself and the traveling circus she calls a a family. But if you're such a light weight and you want to allow others to "instruct" you on who to vote for as you alluded to, then I can understand how you could be so easily duped by a con artist like Sarah Palin.— JLH
- 94 Bravo, who is this so-called Liberal media? Every time I turn on GMA, I see Megan McCain, Christine O'Donnell, or some other conservative hack like Hasselbach. Turner is about the only "liberal" anymore. Even NBC is dominated by Jay Leno and the conversative Microsoft donations to the GOP. Give it a rest. The bigger question is why doesn't someone like George Steponopolous admit Palin is a moron instead of acting amazed by her road show of stupidity? Because he has the corp directive from the conservative Disney corp to stay hands-off Sara baby.— MichaelZoe
- Duh! I rented a bus so I don’t have to run for president, it’s much easier on my feet and I can cover more ground during my presidential campaign. SMH!— luvthetho
- By the way, let's put it out there: the reason she continues to pop up in the news cycle is that she's smoking hot.— 1980
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- If she does not matter then why is the left of center (aka MSM) obsessed with her bus tour? Why do you care unless you are afraid of her.— Dutch-wayne
- dumb as a stump.— Klambake
- @94Bravo, courage my friend. You have done a great job drawing out the sclerotic thought processes and obscurantism within the lame-steam media. Oh, Tommy-boy, glad to see you have gone back to using the 50 cent words, 'bifurcated'.— junethe4th
- Nobody is obssessed with her. The only fear is that a numbskull like this could destroy this great country. Fortunately, she is unelectable— Ogey Oglethorpe
- @94 ... don't you know that EVERYONE slows down to look at a car wreck?? think about Palin this way and it will eventually dawn on you! lol!— recoveryroad
- Please run Sarah! My dream primary would have beenthis moron along with Donald "Carnival Barker" Trump, Michelle "Miss Tea Party" Bachman, "Nasty" Newt Gingrinch, Mike "The Huckster" Huckabee, Tim "Tin Man" Pawlenty, "Psycho" Rick Santorum & Ron Paul the Ralph Nader of the republican party. All these clowns on one stage would've been great!— mtairy1
- The party of family values... featuring unwed teenage pregnancy and a man who meets his new wives before he's left his old ones....— WestReadingGuy
- That's a nice double standard you have there. The R's who violate their vows get strung up, but the D's get a free pass because they don't have family values? You must have great kids that have never made a mistake...if that's the case they must not be human, because we all make mistakes. It's how we own up to them and learn from those mistakes that demonstrate our character.
- It's amazing how you can disguise your family vacation as a political trip so that the PAC pays for it. I feel sorry for anyone who was duped into donating to this PAC. I'm sure her family is thankful for helping finance their summer trip.— WestReadingGuy
- She's cashing in, that's for sure.— agramsci
- Dear fatty, while I dont care for Palin, why do you do a hatchet piece on someone who wants to be part of the debate. Debate is good.— Captain Terrific
- Tommy is still pissed off that Gore didn't win even after all his attempts to destroy the truth!!!— sarah89
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
