Palin already booked on debate day

The Hill ^ | March 8, 2011 | Jordan Fabian

[Kaslin]

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) will headline a military appreciation event and fundraiser on May 2 in Colorado — the same day as the first GOP presidential primary debate in California.

The potential presidential candidate is scheduled to speak at an event titled "Tribute to the Troops With Sarah Palin" at Colorado Christian University, in the Denver area.

The 7 p.m. Mountain Time event falls on the same day as the NBC News-Politico debate — the first of the GOP primary season — which will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

John Andrews, a university official, told The Denver Post he was aware of the debate when the college booked the 2008 vice presidential nominee and said he did not expect Palin to attend the debate.

"Presumably, this means she will be doing [the fundraiser] instead of any other engagement on the second," Andrews said.

The announcement comes as Palin continues to grapple with her decision on whether to run for president. Palin said recently she is still undecided.

"You enter a race to win the race, so there are still a lot of considerations that have to be made," she told the BBC in an interview that aired Monday. "We haven't made up our mind or desire to make an announcement yet as to what it is we will be doing."

Palin said the considerations include her ability to match President Obama's fundraising prowess and whether the country would be ready for an "unconventional" candidate like her.

Melissa Giller, a spokeswoman for the Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, told the Post that no likely Republican candidates have committed to attend the debate, which will be moderated by NBC "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams and Politico editor John Harris.

Palin will not collect an honorarium for the event, Andrews told the Post. According to the event's website, all of its proceeds will be donated to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which benefits families of deceased soldiers.

"It's not a political day," Andrews said. "It's a day to honor our armed forces."

[GoCards]

Why arent debates held by Heritage something like that.

[napscoordinator]

My birthday on that day. I am glad to see Sarah celebrating with the military. Good for her. Shows where her priorities are. She could have said, “Sorry, but I got to go to this debate.” and really disappoint a lot of people. I am rather impressed with her lately.

[DTogo]

A Rush listener had it right today, many other potential candidates are probably waiting for her to decide before they do.

[Jim Scott]

Big deal.

From the article: Melissa Giller, a spokeswoman for the Reagan Presidential Library Foundation, told the Post that no likely Republican candidates have committed to attend the debate, which will be moderated by NBC "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams and Politico editor John Harris.

It's a lefty 'debate' and Palin doesn't need it. I believe she really is seriously considering whether she will run or not and not simply being coy. Besides, her appearance at the 'Tribute to the Troops' is far more important tha another liberal-dominated 'debate'.

[Gator113]

Regardless of the reason on this occasion, Palin needs to treat NBC “Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams and Politico editor John Harris, like the disgusting poison they are.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Wow, these journolist types are really lazy-—this is the third or fourth story I’ve seen today along these lines-— all saying the same thing and agonzing over her smart choice to fundraise for veterans on May 2 rather than walk into a Rat trap. Who do they think they are fooling?

[vigilence]

I believe that she would be open to being a compromise candidate, winning the nomination by acclaim at the convention after the field narrows and none of the candidates are able to generate any enthusiasm. The longer she waits to not declare the smaller the field. Pretty smart, eh?

[JPG]

Any debate without Sarah is a guaranteed Grade A Snoozer. So far, no one wants to step ahead of the lady. She is still dictating the primary terms and conditions. Sorry, RINO’s.

[USS Alaska]

May 2, politico and nbc, whoa, there is a fair and balanced debate agenda.

Is nbc bringing olberwoman off the shelf as the moderator?

Sarah can make more political points by cutting her toenails with a chain saw.

Screw them, if Sarah decides to run, she will say, " I am declaring my candidacy to be the Republican nominee for the President of the United States and I will be available to debate any and all potential Republican pretenders on the following dates; xxx, yyy, zzz.

If any responsible network work be interested in carrying these debates, please send your qualification check of $50,000,000 to my director at ....

If your network is not interested or doesn't have the money, piss off you pissants.

[harmonium]

I could see her attempting a dark horse strategy.

I could also see her just playing coy until the last second and rescheduling her commitments.

My theory is even if she doesn’t intend to take the nomination she’ll take advantage of the medias obsession with her to both give shelter to the potential nominee, while culling the herd by being a kingmaker presence.

[OriginalChristian]

She is THE game changer and everybody, including the RINO’s and the a$$clowns in the media know it. They can villify to the skies, it doesn’t matter, the runup to 2012 is in her control. Pretty damned good for damaged goods, I’d say. Underestimate her at your own peril, RINO’s.

[Bigtigermike]

These early debates are a setup.....the media will try to define these candidates before they settle in campaigning to the voters and it would be foolish for a top tier candidate to go to them...good for Palin

[Wonder Warthog]

"My birthday on that day."

Wedding anniversary here. And I've been impressed with Sarah from the start, especially since studying her record and reading both her books. She is far and away the best candidate for the country at this time in history. She "gets it" better than any of "the other guys".

[Polybius]

She is THE game changer and everybody, including the RINO’s and the a$$clowns in the media know it. They can villify to the skies, it doesn’t matter, the runup to 2012 is in her control. Pretty damned good for damaged goods, I’d say.

"Pretty damned good"?

This is "Pretty damned good"?

FOX News Poll (February 7-9, 2011)

Question 3: I am going to read you a list of names. Tell me if you think that person would make a good President or not.

Sarah Palin:

.................YES.........NO.......DK.....Never heard of

ALL...........23%.......72%.........4%.......1%

Dem ...........7%........87%........5%.......1%

Rep ...........40%.......56%.......3%.......1%

Ind ...........25%........69%.......3%.......1%

Republicans make up only 29% of all voters:

>

Of that small percentage of all voters, only 40% of Republicans think Sarah Palin would make a good President.

After Sarah Palin does "pretty damed good" with the 40% of the only 29% of ALL voters, that still leaves her with a general election defeat of Biblical proportions since 72% of ALL voters believe that she would NOT be a good Predident.

Poll after poll shows that there is one Republican nominee that will guarantee the reelection of Barack Hussein Obama. That nominee would be Sarah Palin.

Same Fox News Poll (February 7-9, 2011), Question 19:

Thinking ahead to the next presidential election, if the election were held today, how would you vote if the candidates were Barack Obama and Republican Sarah Palin?

Barack Obama: 56%

Sarah Palin: 35%

[Kaslin]

You’re right about that

[Kaslin]

I have learned quite a while ago to take anything by Politico with a grain of salt, being that it is left wing

[Polybius]

She is far and away the best candidate for the country at this time in history. She "gets it" better than any of "the other guys".

Are you sure about that?

"Palin couldn't explain why North Korea and South Korea were separate nations. ..... Asked to identify the enemy that her son would be fighting in Iraq, she drew a blank. Later, on the plane, Palin said to her team: 'I wish I'd paid more attention to this stuff'."

None of the present crop of old Republican retreads and a candidate that, in comparison to the average Free Republic poster in 2008, was pathetically uninformed about the situation in Iraq, is going to win in November of 2012.

A strong Republican candidate, that is not yet being talked about, will emerge next Spring. That will be the candidate that defeats Barrack Obama.

[Art in Idaho]

Sarah is smart. No setup debates by the libs-MSM. She debates on her terms. How about a national all Republican contender debate at Hillsdale College?

[Art in Idaho]

January online Townhall poll results:

Sarah Palin - 22.27%

Mitt Romney - 14.48%

Ron Paul - 11.52%

Mike Huckabee - 10.76%

Newt Gingrich - 10.03%

Herman Cain - 7.14%

Chris Christie - 5.55%

Tim Pawlenty - 3.02%

People who vote in an online Townhall poll are most likely Republicans or Libertarians and certainly are going to vote. We'll see how it all shakes out. I hope Sarah runs.