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Can Sarah Palin translate celebrity into real political power?
The Washington Post ^ | February 14, 2010 | Dan Balz

Posted on 02/13/2010 8:31:36 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Sarah Palin has proved that she can draw a crowd. What she has yet to demonstrate is that she can translate the appeal of a phenomenon into a political force that can attract or mobilize sizable numbers of voters.

The former Alaska governor is the Republican Party's biggest celebrity. She has given voice to a grass-roots movement grounded in anger with Washington and President Obama's policies. But her political future remains in question. Is she presidential timber? A force only within the Republican Party? A protest candidate like George Wallace (minus the racial divisiveness) or Ross Perot?

--snip--

"Right now, she is a figure like [George] McGovern or [Barry] Goldwater, two candidates who led the most intense movements in our country's political history, but who couldn't win the middle."

If Palin harbors presidential ambitions, she has a huge mountain to climb. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 71 percent of Americans do not think the politician who was Sen. John McCain's running mate in 2008 is qualified to be president.

Those numbers are so daunting that some Republicans who otherwise admire what she has accomplished doubt that she will run in 2012. Others say that unless she can transform attitudes dramatically, she cannot hope to win a general election. Still, GOP strategist Phil Musser said, "if she ran for president today, she would be the Republican nominee."

Musser's comments are notable because he is an adviser to Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), who is eyeing a 2012 candidacy of his own. Palin's political future remains "very much an open question," Musser said, "but the intensity that she brought to the ticket in 2008 hasn't faded, and one could argue that perhaps it's been enhanced."(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Issues; Parties; Polls
KEYWORDS: 2010polls; 2012; dnc4romney; msm4romney; mythromney; obama4romney; operationleper; palin; pimpingromney; politics; romney; romney4obama; sarahpalin; schmidtheads; teaparty; teapartyrebellion
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To: WVNan

“She is more qualified than any president that we have had since Bush I.”

That is the standardless attack line they try to use. How do you refute it? Who, after all, is qualified? The answer is “a 35 year old natural born citizen of the United States”. That makes you qualified. 270 electoral votes make a qualified person President. And how they perform in the job determines, in retrospect whether they were “fit” for the job. I think, after she serves, Palin will go down in history as eminently fit for the job, and I agree with you that her life experiences, both inside and outside of government have fitted her uniquely and extraordinarily well for the job. That is why she has my wholehearted support.


41 posted on 02/13/2010 9:32:07 PM PST by Brices Crossroads
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To: bigbob
agreed. the 46% that voted for McCain is in the bag. That means that only 5% of voters need to change their minds but those 5% need to be in the key states. I firmly believe any GOP candidate will win the general in 2012. the difference will be do we want a 52%-48% win or do we want a landslide win.

Palin is the only person able to bring the landslide win. And to really change Dc you need a landslide win. Mitt, TPAw etc will at most get a win with no mandate.

42 posted on 02/13/2010 9:34:15 PM PST by unseen1
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To: CaptRon
No. The Dems will riducle her into obscurity. And she makes it easy.

OH PLEASE.

Sarah Palin attracts crowds and media attention where ever she goes.

The candidate who will beat Obama will have to raise millions and ONLY SARAH CAN DO THAT!!!

43 posted on 02/13/2010 9:34:23 PM PST by onyx (BE A MONTHLY DONOR - I AM)
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To: CaptRon

Ron, stop baiting. It’s unseemly.


44 posted on 02/13/2010 9:36:18 PM PST by WVNan (I hate the liberal news corpse..)
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To: WVNan
I appreciate your point, but I don't think gender is the stumbling block here. It's her honesty, and forthright appeal to Main Street that elites in Washington are unable to tolerate.
Don't forget that Hillary is the same gender as Sarah, and she was cheered, and never booed.
45 posted on 02/13/2010 9:36:21 PM PST by J Edgar
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To: onyx

Dollars don’t = votes. Don’t get me wrong. I love her to death, but I don’t see the American public putting her in charge of the country. Plus this guy is a jerk.


46 posted on 02/13/2010 9:36:40 PM PST by CaptRon
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To: WVNan

Not baiting. He started it.


47 posted on 02/13/2010 9:37:40 PM PST by CaptRon
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To: CaptRon
I'm with you. She will not be able to overcome the ridicule or anti Sarah controversy. She will be fodder for the left big time.
48 posted on 02/13/2010 9:37:58 PM PST by Bronzy
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To: J Edgar

Yes, but did they elect her? Nope, got behind the articulate, clean negro.


49 posted on 02/13/2010 9:38:29 PM PST by WVNan (I hate the liberal news corpse..)
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To: Bronzy

Thanks for your support.


50 posted on 02/13/2010 9:38:33 PM PST by CaptRon
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To: CaptRon

ROTFLOL. That sounds just like my kids.


51 posted on 02/13/2010 9:39:34 PM PST by WVNan (I hate the liberal news corpse..)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 71 percent of Americans do not think the politician who was Sen. John McCain's running mate in 2008 is qualified to be president.

Yeah. I trust the Washington Post and ABC News to conduct an objective poll on Sarah Palin.

52 posted on 02/13/2010 9:40:31 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: WVNan

Seriously. look back thru the posts. He called me ignorant and later told me I slandered him! I’m tellin’ ya, these new posters are angry and uncivilized.


53 posted on 02/13/2010 9:41:14 PM PST by CaptRon
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To: WVNan

Seriously, has anyone here known me to be nasty to anyone?


54 posted on 02/13/2010 9:41:59 PM PST by CaptRon
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To: Texas Eagle

Yes, that was the other point I meant to touch on. You are right. Who are the people who read the W.P. and watch ABC news? Duh. Why don’t they try running their poll in the Weekly Standard and FOX News?


55 posted on 02/13/2010 9:42:48 PM PST by WVNan (I hate the liberal news corpse..)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I do not want Obama to be in power for 8 years. That’s really the bottom line.


56 posted on 02/13/2010 9:43:31 PM PST by ari-freedom (Chris Wallace: I can tell you, Ronald Reagan would never have quit.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; Mr. Mojo

you got two million?

loan me a dime bro...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqI81Xa2mFk


57 posted on 02/13/2010 9:43:48 PM PST by wardaddy (I have been in a serious RHCPers mood lately......)
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To: WVNan

Ok point taken, but I still think honesty trumps gender in Washington DC.


58 posted on 02/13/2010 9:43:57 PM PST by J Edgar
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To: CaptRon

ROTFLOL....nawwwwww, not you. Calm and collected all the time ye are.


59 posted on 02/13/2010 9:44:21 PM PST by WVNan (I hate the liberal news corpse..)
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To: CaptRon
This used to be a civilized forum.

LOL..u know better than that Cap'n.

60 posted on 02/13/2010 9:44:40 PM PST by wardaddy (I have been in a serious RHCPers mood lately......)
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