Posted on 07/17/2012 1:41:58 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Last May, a cult-like throng of journalists chased Sarah Palin and her bus along the East Coast, eager that shed drop the slightest of hints that would answer an almost fanatical question: Was she jumping into the GOP primary?
This weekend she gave a speech in front of hundreds of supporters, revving them up with some of her favorite lines blasting both President Obama and crony capitalism and calling the bitter clingers to action. She even unveiled this new line to huge cheers:
Were little tea pots, and were getting steamed up because Obama is tipping us over, pouring us out and draining the entrepreneurial spirit from us, that which grew America into the most exceptional nation ever known, she said at a tea party event for wounded soldiers in Belleville, Mich., sponsored by the Koch brothers-backed Americans for Prosperity.
She was once the most visible spokeswoman for the conservative cause, and now her reality star daughter Bristol gets almost more attention. Not that the elder Palin isnt still good at it; she riles up a crowd in a way no one on the GOP side can. So why the fading headlines?
SarahPAC is still a secretive organization, but those willing to lift the veil a bit say shes actively taking a step back and not much is going on inside. Whats not clear is if they are gearing up for attack or if she will stay in the background.
Even her chief of staff has left, ABC News has learned. Michael Glassner was hired last February and it set off a flurry of early will-she-wont-she run headlines. He recently left SarahPAC because there just wasnt enough for him to do, according to several sources knowledgeable of the inner workings of the organization.
They are still fundraising, though. According to their Federal Election Commission filing Friday they raised $780,000 over the past three months. Thats up from only $388,000 they raised in the first three months of the year.
Despite the slower schedule, she is focused on congressional candidates as opposed as to the top office. She went after Obama in Michigan (Why would anybody want to fundamentally transform what is so good and free and strong about America? she said, according to the Detroit News), but she isnt firing up the crowd for the presumptive GOP nominee, a visible distinction.
Palin never officially endorsed Mitt Romney, and she prefers to slam Obama rather than praise his challenger.
Palins next steps are a bit of a mystery, but why isnt she hitting the road with Romney, jazzing up the so-called base that the former Massachusetts governor has struggled so hard to win over?
I think it would be essential for victory in the fall for Gov. Palin to be involved in galvanizing turnout in key battleground states, said Steve Bannon, the executive chairman of the right-wing Breitbart News who is also Palins friend. In order to win, we need the same type of surge in the fall of 2010 among tea party and grassroots organizations, working-class people and Gov. Palin talks to that audience better than anybody else today. There is no scenario for victory in November in the battleground states that is not directly tied to turnout. Governor Palin is the key that picks that lock.
Palin has yet to make an appearance on the road to the White House being traveled by Romney. As we approach Romneys announcement of his own running mate, four years after Palin was plucked from the frontier, the headlines about the pride of Wasilla are almost more about her daughters reality show than her comments or aspirations. Her daughter, Bristol, stars in Lifes a Tripp on Lifetime.
And what about the Republican National Convention next month the place she made such a splash just four years ago theres no sign that she will have a speaking role, but we do know her political action committee will be there, if not on site.
On FEC forms filed in April, SarahPAC spent $4,500 to reserve space at the Channelside Bay Plaza in Tampa for the event. Its a five-minute walk from the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where the actual convention will be, and its easily accessible to all the big GOP leaders and delegates, as well as the thousands of journalists who will descend on Florida.
Grover Norquist, the anti-tax hawk, said the Romney campaign would be wise to build a strong relationship with Palin just as it has done with Ron Paul, the libertarian candidate who marshals a loyal following in the GOP. But with Palin, formalities might matter Romney shouldnt expect Palin to beg for a speaking slot at the convention, he said.
Some people need to be invited. Some people need to be told, We want you, Norquist said. People like to be asked.
And in a hint as to how Palin is thinking about Romneys campaign and what advice she would give, Bannon said he believes she would agree with a Romney surrogate who hasnt always been so kind to Palin.
I heard she wasn’t going to the Convention. Am I wrong? I would love for her to give a prime time speech.
Know what's gonna happen in Tampa? Mitt Romney is going to be nominated to run for President against Barak Obama.
The thing about being a so-called “fatso” is that you can lose the weight, but you can’t cure stupid.
Sarah came out in support of Mitt back in April.
Rombutt is on his own. Gov Palin knows, as should all right thinking Conservatives, that a Romney presidency has disaster written all over it unless Conservatives occupy a lot more seats in Congress.
HA!! Sparky, zip up your pants, your delusion is showing.
I saw a headline which said she had not been asked to attend.
“The thing about being a so-called fatso is that you can lose the weight, but you cant cure stupid.
You are so correct.
The ineligible poser RINO Milt:
"You expect ME to speak up ... for her?
My attacks on that woman are ... just the right size."
Umm...she’s out there, helping Republican candidates and giving Barry (and a large number of downticket Democrats) all kinds of grief, and doing it the way she wants to do, rather than the way the Romney campaign would require her to do. Aside from that, I gather she’s building up funds, building her Rolodex, letting her kids grow up, and biding her time until 2016 or 2020. In short, looking out for her own interests and letting Mitt and his campaign worry about theirs.
Gov. Palin suffers from Stockholm Syndrome from her 2008
VP-’assassin’, Bishop RomneyCARE, the GOPe Backstabber
and sole author of DEATH PANELS and socialized medicine.
You are on the wrong side, of this fight.
Seriously.
FRiend, the fight is against GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL
of FREEDOM and MEDICINE and FAMILIES.
So explain why you defend the AUTHOR of gay marriage
pushed through by HIS WHIM and not by a vote,
who incidentally is also the AUTHOR
of DEATH PANELS. He also supports
Sharia, TARP, TAXES, and the 911 Victory Mosque.
So why don’t you defend Mr. RomneyCARE on this, here, now.
Judging from the comments on this thread I would say Sarah has lost her ability to unite us in a common cause.
I am not now, nor never have been about defending Romney about anything except winning.
For that however, he deserves support. At least in my opinion.
I support Sarah Palin enthusiastically, from my heart, and I always will.
See the difference? :D
That’s basically what I heard about Sarah. Grrrrr....
I hope she’s cleaning a salmon somewhere.
+1
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