I hear you, but you've got to cast your radar far beyond your limited circle to get a better feel for what Americans really think of Gov. Palin.
Take FR, for example. Freepers are spread out all across the country, and represent every demographic there is. Open any Palin thread and count the pro versus con posts, and see how she rates. It's very high.
After her big speech at the Reagan dinner in Iowa tonight, she was swarmed like a 60's rock star, by the press and politicos. That doesn't happen to someone who's been too damaged to take seriously. These people are pros, and know which way the wind's blowing.
Sarah Palin has this power precisely because she has such broad-based support among the public.
>Take FR, for example. Freepers are spread out all across the country, and represent every demographic there is. Open any Palin thread and count the pro versus con posts, and see how she rates. It’s very high.<
I agree with that, but counting FR isn’t really counting the general population. For the most part Freepers are conservative. Considered by the lame stream media as right wing radicals.
I didn’t see her at the Reagan dinner, but again I would expect that there were conservatives there and would not expect her to get anything less than star quality treatment there. Even the press would fall all over her because the people she is supporting seem to be doing well.
Maybe the landscape will change because of that. I certainly hope so.
I would love to see her run with Michelle Bachmann on her ticket. What a team that would be for America!
I want to say that I am Pro Palin, and have been since the first time she stepped on the national stage. I will campaign for her vigorously, if she decides to run.
Having said that, please don't equate Freepers with the national public. Were you here during the last primaries? There was a purge of non - Thompson republicans. If you dared to support any candidate that was not site approved (Guilliani) you were kicked off. Guilliani may not have been as conservative as many would have liked, there is no denying that, but IMO he was the best on National defense, and the one that would have stood up to the IslamoFascits that are on the rise once again.
I know, in the end, the election turned on the economy, but many here also predicted, correctly, that the Terrorists would win in the end if Obama was elected.
So again, although I 100% support Palin in 2012, don't take the "pulse" of Free Republic and turn that into national support.