OUR OPINION: Decision day looms for Sarah Palin

The Sioux City Journal ^ | August 16, 2011 | The Editors

[2ndDivisionVet]

Turns out she didn't try the fried butter after all. But there was plenty of waffling to go around when 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin visited the Iowa State Fair on Friday.

Upon arrival, Palin immediately headed to the livestock barns and the media cattle call ensued. Were there more cameras than cows? Maybe not (this is the state fair after all), but the scene was surreal.

Palin and her husband, Todd, feigned amusement and surprise that the "lamestream" media was making such a spectacle of her return to the Hawkeye State. She merely accepted an invitation to visit, she maintained. Never mind that she fired up her idled bus tour just a day before the biggest political event of the year so far - the Iowa Straw Poll.

And she did talk politics. A lot. She spoke to everyone from Journal Des Moines reporter Mike Wiser to Jake Tapper of ABC News and journalists from the influential website Politico. In nearly every conversation, she criticized President Obama. When asked what Americans were looking for in the next president, she described a candidate that looks remarkably like a certain former Alaska governor.

Was she buttering up potential caucus goers or simply taking the opportunity to seize some of the spotlight? We don't know. But it is interesting to hear Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn raise doubts and point out that he sees no evidence of a Palin organization that could be ready to compete in the caucuses.

Friday's visit is nothing new, though, for Palin. She clearly enjoys the attention and clearly takes delight in bashing the president, the media and "the establishment." And we in the media make it easy for her, following her everywhere and reporting every syllable she utters.

Iowans will quickly grow tired of this act if Palin doesn't make her intentions clear soon. She told the media throng a decision will come sometime in September or October. We'd like to see an earlier timetable, but today we will settle for simply encouraging Palin to be a woman of her word and let us know where she stands.

So far, her track record on promises here appears mixed. She nixed the fried butter and opted for corn dogs instead. But we won't hold that against her just yet.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Time will tell>

[gov_bean_ counter]

Plus you are assuming that the Palin campaign cared about the Ames deal. WADR, I don't think any of us are in a position to know what her organization's priorities are. I'm content to wait it out as are most of her supporters.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I also see a touch of Ayn Rand in her attitude toward the press...

I THINK, Governor Palin views press interviews as something of a business transaction. She now has value. Any interview is a ratings getter. She is going to determine who trades on that value and on what terms. Tell me what other politician can say that.

What of Fox? They were ticked she didn't give them a heads up. She gets paid to perform a service. Obligation ends there. Fox has no more right to trade on her value than any other media does.

She has said she will not waste her time on media types who are not interested in a healthy exchange of ideas. I say, More Power to Her.

[sand88]

As always, you provide very insightful posts.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Thank you. Very much appreciated.

[calcowgirl]

We need a outsider like Palin who has a reputation of putting people of her own party in jail.

Who did she put in jail? For what crime?

[truthkeeper]

Well, it’ll be me and you then. See my tagline.

[SamAdams76]

If she wants to be competitive in Iowa I’d say she needs to announce by Labor Day so her ground team has time to organize.

Organize what? A quilting bee? Square dances? Corn husking contests?

The Iowa caucus isn't under January. Nothing is going to be happening for the next three months. Palin could enter the race in November (as Reagan did) and within a week, she'd have raised more money than the other candidates combined and she'll sign up a million volunteers online over the first weekend.

This isn't 1971...with instant communication on Facebook, Twitter, etc., she can do a complete bypass of the national media. Besides, they follow her every move already anyhow.

And we already know Sarah isn't going to confuse Elvis Presley's deathday with his birthday! In fact, she can probably recite the verses to "Hound Dog" without having to Google the lyrics.

[RedMDer]

She beat the media out and they're livid that she gave them the slip.
They just can't believe that she got away with that.
They can't believe she gave 'em the slip.
They can't believe that she would even try to give 'em the slip. - Rush.

[abcc2011]

Way Cool! Thanks RedMDer! I clicked my “recent reply” link and was expecting to read a lashing from a Perry supported, but got this huge photo of Gov. Palin waving at me. Wow. Made my day. Thank you!!!

[SarahPalinForPresident2012]

she will announce in October — they are wasting their time trying to hustle her

[Old Teufel Hunden]

" But it is interesting to hear Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn raise doubts and point out that he sees no evidence of a Palin organization that could be ready to compete in the caucuses."

The most important part of the article. Someone who has no dog in this fight and someone who would know whose campaign is on the ground and competing heavily. Very relevant point here...