Posted on 09/02/2011 2:09:26 PM PDT by Hojczyk
The bad news for Palin fans? If NROs Robert Costa and CNNs Peter Hamby are right, tomorrows not the day. The good news? Per Hamby, the day may still be coming.
The source said Palin is attempting to burnish her image as an outsider and a reformer, reminding the audience of her record in Alaska and specifically highlighting her battles against what she called the states corrupt Republican political class that was in cahoots with the oil and gas industry.
Palin plans to unleash a furious criticism of crony capitalism and attack the permanent political class in both parties: thinly veiled criticisms of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has surged to the top of most polls for the Republican presidential nomination.
Political opponents have long accused Perry, who has held some form of elected office since 1985, of rewarding his allies and campaign donors with plum government posts and contracts.
Though she has no plans to mention Perry or any other Republican presidential hopeful by name, Palin will implicitly contrast herself against the current crop of GOP candidates and further define her brand in case she does decide to run.
Scott Conroy of RCP got a preview of the speech too and also seized on those phrases as veiled digs at Perry. Whether thats a case of him and Hamby reading things the same way independently or, more significantly, whether their sources inside Palins camp are pushing that reading on them, I cant tell. If she does end up taking a dig at Perry, the only reason to do it is that shes planning to announce herself in a few weeks. Criticizing him just to criticize him would be unthinkable given the mileage the left will get out of it, but it makes sense if shes running per her Ill jump in if theres no one else to carry the banner rationale from months ago. She needs to distinguish herself from Perry somehow in order to justify that logic and this would be one way. (Conroy notes that shell also tout her record as governor, another sign that shes in.) But dont jump to conclusions: Much depends on how all this is framed in the speech. By permanent political class, she may mean the Beltway; and the attack on crony capitalism might be aimed explicitly at Obama, with good reason. Who knows? She could throw us a curveball by praising Perry or the other nominees outright in the speech. Or maybe tomorrows the day after all and the leaks to Costa and Hamby that shes not announcing are merely a feint designed to throw the media off her trail.
John Fund thinks shes not running and will probably end up endorsing Perry, but if Hamby and Conroy are right about those veiled digs, that endorsement will be highly nuanced indeed. Via the Right Scoop, heres her old pal Karl Rove on Fox this morning warning her that shes doing damage to her prospective candidacy with this endless game of in or out?. Is he right? Her core supporters will forgive her anything, but Rasmussens latest finds 52 percent of Republicans think it would be bad for the GOP if she jumped in. No doubt Rick Perry agrees. Does Mitt Romney? Click the image to watch.
Sheesh. This is like the 10th thread today (so far) from various and different sources on the she will/she won’t run debacle.
I love Sarah either way. But the way she plays the media and the bloggers with all this anticipation is priceless.
Yawn.
This is becoming about as tiresome as Mario Cuomo’s pseudo-candidacies back in the 80’s and 90’s. Get in or get out.
At this point Palin is just going divide up the vote between Perry and Bachman and let Mittens slide through. Not good.
I think she will get in...it is now or never...what does she have to loose???? If Perry wins the primary she may be VP or Energy secretary ....or just raise funds for tea party candidates..and stay with Fox News...Looks like a win win to me...
Millions of people find it pretty exciting. Your candidates will just have to beat her that’s all.
People that believe she will be directing her comments at Gov Perry regarding crony capitalism haven’t been paying attention.
The crony capitalism taking place is in the WHITE HOUSE.
I wonder if all those folks with enormous faith invested in her think it's priceless.
I like her but, she is turning into a gadfly.
Announce or get off the stage...please!
A lot of nuts are going to get pissed over the cronyism remarks, Perry do love his cronyism.
Turn on your TV tomorrow. It will be morning in America again.
Bachmann is over. I don't think Mitt will get much Tea Party support.
I agree, but then I have been wrong. I would love to see Palin endorse Bachmann!
For someone who is not very bright, and who has no chance at being the GOP nominee, let alone President, blah blah blah, the media sure can’t stop talking about her! The MSM are the addicts and she is their drug.
FYI...boy oh boy....did you ever call this one exactly right..I’m impressed....
But, but, a Fox News poll said that 3000 percent of Tea Parties don’t want Palin to run either!
It’s gone from “endorse Perry” to an oblique criticize... what a day. SMH...
I know. Very upsetting! :-)
Not at all. She takes Zip from Perry.
Kills MB.
And...my guess is, she won’t go after Perry.
Cheney only said it once.
The Phrase ‘Rick Perry, he’s no quitter’ hits hard no matter how reasoned her rationale was. Our friends here seem to think the general populace is as politically attuned as they are, to those I would just say....
‘President Obama says hello’
Sure does seem like a lot of people have signed up this year just to say how uninterested they are in Palin? Makes you wonder?
Pray for America
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